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1589 


AESOP’S  FABLES. 


THREE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY 


AZSOP’S  FABLES, 

Literally  Translated  prom  the  Greek. 

BY  THE 

REV.  GEO.  FYLER  TOWNSEND,  M.  A. 


With  One  Hundred  and  Fourteen  Illustrations,  Designed  by 
Harrison  Weir,  and  Engraved  by  J.  Greenaway. 


CHICAGO: 

DONOHUE,  HENNEBERRY&  CO. 


407-425  Dearborn-  Street 
1890 


0ONOHUE  & HENNEBERRY. 

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PREFACE. 


The  Tale,  the  Parable,  and  the  Fable  are  all  common 
and  popular  modes  of  conveying  instruction.  Each 
is  distinguished  by  its  own  special  characteristics. 
The  Tale  consists  simply  in  the  narration  of  a story 
either  founded  on  facts,  or  created  solely  by  the  im- 
agination, and  not  necessarily  associated  with  the 
teaching  of  any  moral  lesson.  The  Parable  is  the 
designed  use  of  language  purposely  intended  to  con- 
vey a hidden  and  secret  meaning  other  than  that 
contained  in  the  words  themselves  ; and  which  may 
or  may  not  bear  a special  reference  to  the  hearer,  or 
reader.  The  Fable  partly  agrees  with,  and  partly 
differs  from  both  of  these.  It  will  contain,  like  the 
Tale,  a short  but  real  narrative  ; it  will  seek,  like  the 
Parable,  to  convey  a hidden  meaning,  and  that  not 
so  much  by  the  use  of  language,  as  by  the  skilful 
introduction  of  fictitious  characters  ; and  yet  unlike 
to  either  Tale  or  Parable,  it  will  ever  keep  in  view, 


as  its  high  prerogative,  and  inseparable  attribute, 
the  great  purpose  of  instruction,  and  will  necessarily 
seek  to  inculcate  some  moral  maxim,  social  duty,  or 
political  truth.  The  true  Fable,  if  it  rise  to  its  high 
requirements,  ever  aims  at  one  great  end  and  purpose 
—the  representation  of  human  motive,  and  the  im- 
provement of  human  conduct,  and  yet  it  so  conceals 
its  design  under  the  disguise  of  fictitious  characters, 
by  clothing  with  speech  the  animals  of  the  field,  the 
birds  of  the  air,  the  trees  of  the  wood,  or  the  beasts 
of  the  forest,  that  the  reader  shall  receive  advice 
without  [perceiving  the  presence  of  the  adviser. 
Thus  the  superiority  of  the  counselor,  which  often 
renders  counsel  unpalatable,  is  kept  out  of  view,  and 
the  lesson  comes  with  the  greater  acceptance  when 
the  reader  is  led,  unconsciously  to  himself,  to  have 
his  sympathies  enlisted  in  behalf  of  what  is  pure, 
honorable,  and  praiseworthy,  and  to  have  his  indig- 
nation excited  against  what  is  low,  ignoble,  and  un- 
worthy. The  true  fabulist,  therefore,  discharges  a 
most  important  function.  He  is  neither  a narrator, 
nor  an  allegorist.  He  is  a great  teacher,  a corrector 
of  morals,  a censor  of  vice,  and  a commender  of 
virtue.  In  this  consists  the  superiority  of  the  Fable 
over  the  Tale  or  the  Parable.  The  fabulist  is  to 
create  a laugh,  but  yet,  under  a merry  guise,  to  cou- 


Preface. 


Vll 


vey  instruction.  Phsedrus,  the  great  imitator  of 
iEsop  plainly  indicates  this  double  purpose  to  be  the 
true  office  of  the  writer  of  fables. 

Duplex  libelli  dos  est : quod  rlsum  movet, 

Et  quod  prudenti  vitam  consilio  monet. 

The  continued  observance  of  this  twofold  aim 
creates  the  charm,  and  accounts  for  the  universal 
favor,  of  the  fables  of  iEsop.  “The  fable,”  says 
Professor  K.  O.  Mueller,  “ originated  in  Greece,  in  an 
intentional travestie  of  human  affairs.  The ‘ainos,’ 
as  its  name  denotes,  is  an  admonition,  or  rather  a 
reproof,  veiled,  either  from  fear  of  an  excess  of 
frankness,  or  from  a love  of  fun  and  jest,  beneath 
the  fiction  of  an  occurrence  happening  among 
beasts ; and  wherever  we  have  any  ancient  or  au- 
thentic account  of  the  JSsopian  fables  we  find  it  to 
be  the  same.”  * 

The  construction  of  a fable  involves  a minute 
attention  to  (1),  the  narration  itself ; (2),  the  deduc- 
tion of  the  moral ; and  (3),  a careful  maintenance  of 
the  individual  characteristics  of  the  fictitious  person- 
ages introduced  into  it.  The  narration  should  relate 
to  one  simple  action,  consistent  with  itself,  and 
neither  be  overladen  with  a multiplicity  of  details, 


*A  History  of  the  Literature  of  Ancient  Greece,  by  K.  O.  Mueller.  Vol,  i„ 
p.  191.  London,  Parker,  1858, 


vii!  Preface. 

nor  distracted  by  a variety  of  circumstances.  The 
moral  or  lesson  should  be  so  plain,  and  so  intimately 
interwoven  with,  and  so  necessarily  dependent  on, 
the  narration,  that  every  reader  should  be  compelled 
to  gr:e  to  it  the  same  undeniable  interpretation, 
x he  introduction  of  the  animals  or  fictitious  charac- 
ters should  be  marked  with  an  unexceptionable  care 
and  attention  to  their  natural  attributes,  and  to  the 
qualities  attributed  to  them  by  universal  popular 
consent.  The  Fox  should  be  always  cunning,  the 
Hare  timid,  the  Lion  bold,  the  Wolf  cruel,  the  Bull 
strong,  the  Horse  proud,  and  the  Ass  patient.  Many 
of  these  fables  are  characterized  by  the  strictest 
observance  of  these  rules.  They  are  occupied  with 
one  short  narrative,  from  which  the  moral  naturally 
flows,  and  with  which  it  is  intimately  associated. 
“ ’Tis  the  simple  manner,”  says  Dodsley,*  “ in  which 
the  morals  of  HCsop  are  interwoven  with  his  [fables 
that  distinguishes  him,  and  gives  him  the  preference 
over  all  other  my  thologists.  His  ‘ Mountain  delivered 
of  a Mouse,’  produces  the  moral  of  his  fable  in  ridi- 
cule of  pompous  pretenders ; and  his  Crow,  when 
she  drops  her  cheese,  lets  fall,  as  it  were  by  accident, 
the  strongest  admonition  against  the  power  of 

* Select  Fables  of  J3sop,  and  other  Fabulists.  In  three  books,  translated 
by  Robert  Dodsley,  accompanied  with  a selection  of  notes,  and  an  Essay  on 
Fable.  Birmingham,  1864.  P.  60. 


Preface. 


IX 


flattery.  There  is  no  need  of  a separate  sentence  to 
explain  it ; no  possibility  of  impressing  it  deeper,  by 
that  load  we  too  often  see  of  accumulated  reflec- 
tions. ”f  An  equal  amount  of  praise  is  due  for  the 
consistency  with  which  the  characters  of  the  ani- 
mals, fictitiously  introduced,  are  marked.  While 
they  are  made  to  depict  the  motives  and  passions  of 
men,  they  retain,  in  an  eminent  degree,  their  own 
special  features  of  craft  or  counsel,  of  cowardice  or 
courage,  of  generosity  or  rapacity. 

These  terms  of  praise,  it  must  be  confessed,  can- 
not be  bestowed  upon  all  the  fables  in  this  collection. 
Many  of  them  lack  that  unity  of  design,  that  close 
connection  of  the  moral  with  the  narrative,  that 
wise  choice  in  the  introduction  of  the  animals,  which 
constitute  the  charm  and  excellency  of  true  ^Esopian 


+ Some  of  these  fables  had,  no  doubt,  in  the  first  instance,  a primary  and 
private  interpretation.  On  the  first  occasion  of  their  being  composed  they 
were  intended  to  refer  to  some  passing  event,  or  to  some  individual  acts  of 
wrong  doing.  Thus,  the  fables  of  the  “ Eagle  and  the  Fox  ” (p.  219),  of  the 
“Fox  and  Monkey”  (p.  86),  are  supposed  to  have  been  written  by  Archilo. 
chus,  to  avenge  the  injuries  done  him  by  Lycambes.  So  also  the  fables  of 
the  “Swollen  Fox”  (p.  132),  of  the  “Frogs  asking  a King”  (p.  55),  were 
spoken  by  iEsop  for  the  immediate  purpose  of  reconciling  the  inhabitants 
of  Samos  and  Athens  to  their  respective  rulers,  Periander  and  Pisistratus; 
while  the  fable  of  the  “ Horse  and  Stag  ” was  composed  to  caution  the 
inhabitants  of  Himera  against  granting  a body-guard  to  Phalaris.  In  a 
similar  manner,  the  fable  from  Phsedrus,  the  “ Marriage  of  the  Sun,”  is 
supposed  to  have  reference  to  the  contemplated  union  of  Livia,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Drusus,  with  Sej anus  the  favorite,  and  minister  of  Trajan.  These 
fables,  however,  though  thus  originating  in  special  events,  and  designed  at 
first  to  meet  special  circumstances,  are  so  admirably  constructed  as  to  be 
fraught  with  lessons  of  general  utility,  and  of  universal  application. 


X 


Preface, 


fable.  This  inferiority  of  some  to  others  is  suffi- 
ciently accounted  for  in  the  history  of  the  origin  and 
descent  of  these  fables.  The  great  bulk  of  them  are 
not  the  immediate  work  of  ASsop.  Many  are  obtained 
from  ancient  authors  prior  to  the  time  in  which  he 
lived.  Thus  the  fable  of  the  “ Hawk  and  the  Night- 
ingale” is  related  by  Hesiod;*  the  “Eagle  wounded 
by  an  Arrow,  winged  with  its  own  Feathers,”  by 
ASschylus ;f  the  “Fox  avenging  his  wrongs  on  the 
Eagle,”  by  Archilochus.  I Many  of  them  again  are 
of  later  origin,  and  are  to  be  traced  to  the  monks  of 
the  middle  ages  : and  yet  this  collection,  though  thus 
made  up  of  fables  both  earlier  and  later  than  the 
era  of  iEsop,  rightfully  bears  his  name,  because  he 
composed  so  large  a number  (all  framed  in  the  same 
mould,  and  conformed  to  the  same  fashion,  and 
stamped  with  the  same  lineaments  image,  and 
superscription)  as  to  secure  to  himself  the  right  to 
be  considered  the  father  of  Greek  fables,  and  the 
founder  of  this  class  of  writing,  which  has  ever 
since  borne  his  name,  and  has  secured  for  him, 

* Hesiod.  Opera  et  dies,  verse  202. 

+ vEschylus.  Fragment  of  the  Myrmidons.  -Eschylus  speaks  of  this 
fable  as  existing  before  his  day.  See  Scholiast  on  the  Aves  of  Aristophanes, 
line  808. 

% Fragment,  38,  ed.  Gaisford.  See  also  Mueller’s  History  of  the  Literature 
of  Ancient  Greece,  vol.  i.,  pp.  100-193. 


Preface.  xi 

through  all  surrounding  ages,  the  position  of  the  first 
of  moralists.* 

The  fables  were  in  the  first  instance  only  narrated 
by  ^Esop,  and  for  a long  time  were  handed  down  by 
the  uncertain  channel  of  oral  tradition.  Socrates  is 
mentioned  by  Platof  as  having  employed  his  time 
while  in  prison,  awaiting  the  return  of  the  sacred 
ship  from  Delphos  which  was  to  be  the  signal  of  his 
death,  in  turning  some  of  these  fables  into  verse,  but 
he  thus  versified  only  such  as  he  remembered.  De- 
metrius Phalereus,  a philosopher  at  Athens  about 
300  b.  c.,  is  said  to  have  made  the  first  collection  of 
these  fables.  Phsedrus,  a slave  by  birth  or  by  subse- 
quent misfortunes,  and  admitted  by  Augustus  to  the 
honors  of  a freedman,  imitated  many  of  these  fables 
in  Latin  iambics  about  the  commencement  of  the 
Christian  era.  Aphthonius,  a rhetorician  of  Antioch, 
a.  c.  315,  wrote  a treatise  on,  and  converted  into  Latin 
prose,  some  of  these  fables.  This  translation  is  the 
the  more  worthy  of  notice,  as  it  illustrates  a custom 


* M.  Bayle  has  well  put  this  in  his  account  of  ^Esop.  “II  n’y  a point 
d’apparence  que  les  fables  qui  portent  aujourd’hui  son  nom  soient  les 
memes  qu’il  avait  faites;  elles  viennent  bien  de  lui  pour  la  plupart,  quant 
a la  matiere  et  la  pensee;  mais  les  paroles  sont  d’  un  autre.”  And  again, 
“C’est  done  a Hesiode,  que  j’aimerais  mieux  attribuer  la  gloire  de  l’inven- 
tion;  mais  sans  doute  il  ledssa  la  chose  tres  imparfaite.  Esope  la  perfect- 
ionne  si  heureusement,  qu’on  l*a  regarde  comme  le  vrai  pere  de  cette  sorte 
de  production.”— Bay  le  Dictionnaire  Historique, 

+ Plato  ip  Phaedope, 


Preface* 


•• 

XU 

of  common  use,  both  in  these  and  in  later  times. 
The  rhetoricians  and  philosophers  were  accustomed 
to  give  the  fables  of  JEsop  as  an  exercise  to  their 
scholars,  not  only  inviting  them  to  discuss  the  moral 
of  the  tale,  but  also  to  practice  and  to  perfect  them- 
selves thereby  in  style  and  rules  of  grammar,  by 
making  for  themselves  new  and  various  versions  of 
the  fables.  Ausonius,*  the  friend  of  the  Emperor 
Yalentinian,  and  the  latest  poet  of  eminence  in  the 
Western  Empire,  has  handed  down  some  of  these 
fables  in  verse,  which  Julianus  Titianus,  a contem- 
porary writer  of  no  great  name,  translated  into 
prose.  Avienus,  also,  a contemporary  of  Ausonius, 
put  some  of  these  fables  into  Latin  elegiacs,  which 
are  given  by  Nevelet  (in  a book  we  shall  refer  to 
hereafter),  and  are  occasionally  incorporated  with 
the  editions  of  Phsedrus. 

Seven  centuries  elapsed  before  the  next  notice  is 
found  of  the  fables  of  JEsop.  During  this  long  pe- 
riod these  fables  seem  to  have  suffered  an  eclipse,  to 
have  disappered  and  to  have  been  forgotten  ; and  it 

*Apologos  en!  misittibi 
Ab  usque  Rheni  limite 
Ausonius  nomen  Italum 
Prseceptor  Augusti  tui 
ASsopiam  trimetriam; 

Quam  vertit  exili  stylo 
Pedestre  concinnans  opus 
Fandi  Titianus  artifex. 

“Ausonii  Epistola,”  xvi.  75-S0« 


Preface  xiii 

is  at  the  commencement  of  the  fourteenth  century, 
when  the  Byzantine  emperors  were  the  great  patrons 
of  learning,  and  amidst  the  splendors  of  an  Asiatic 
court,  that  we  next  find  honors  paid  to  the  name  and 
memory  of  iEsop.  Maximus  Planudes,  a learned 
monk  of  Constantinople,  made  a collection  of  about 
a hundred  and  fifty  of  these  fables.  Little  is  known 
of  his  history.  Planudes,  however,  was  no  mere  re- 
cluse, shut  up  in  his  monastery.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  public  affairs.  In  1327  a.d.  he  was  sent  on  a 
diplomatic  mission  to  Venice  by  the  Emperor  An- 
dronicus  the  Elder.  This  brought  him  into  immedi- 
ate contact  with  the  Western  Patriarch,  whose  inter- 
ests he  henceforth  advocated  with  so  much  zeal  as 
to  bring  on  him  suspicion  and  persecution  from  the 
rulers  of  the  Eastern  Church.  Planudes  has  been 
exposed  to  a two-fold  accusation.  He  is  charged  on 
the  one  hand  with  having  had  before  him  a copy  of 
Babrias  (to  whom  we  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  at 
greater  length  in  the  end  of  this  Preface),  and  to  have 
had  the  bad  taste  “to  transpose,”  or  to  turn  his  poet- 
ical version  into  prose : and  he  is  asserted,  on  the  other 
hand,  never  to  have  seen  the  fables  of  iEsop  at  all, 
but  to  have  himself  invented  and  made  the  fables 
which  he  palmed  off  under  the  name  of  the  famous 
Greek  fabulist.  The  truth  lies  between  these  two  ex- 


XIV 


Preface. 


tremes.  Planudes  may  have  invented  some  few  fa- 
bles, or  have  inserted  some  that  were  current  in  his 
day;  but  there  is  an  abundance  of  unanswerable  in- 
ternal evidence  to  prove  that  he  had  an  acquaintance 
with  the  veritable  Fables  of  iEsop,  although  the  ver- 
sions he  had  access  to  were  probably  corrupt,  as  con- 
tained in  the  various  translations  and  disquisitional 
exercises  of  the  rhetoricians  and  philosophers.  His 
collection  is  interesting  and  important,  not  only  as 
the  parent  source  or  foundation  of  the  earlier  printed 
versions  of  iEsop,  but  as  the  direct  channel  of  attract- 
ing to  these  fables  the  attention  of  the  learned. 

The  eventful  re-introduction,  however,  of  these 

Fables  of  JSsop  to  their  high  place  in  the  general 
literature  of  Christendom,  is  to  be  looked  for  in  the 
W est  rather  than  in  the  East.  The  calamities  gradu- 
ally thickening  around  the  Eastern  Empire,  and  the 
fall  of  Constantinople,  1453  a.d.  combined  with  other 
events  to  promote  the  rapid  restoration  of  learning 
in  Italy;  and  with  that  recovery  of  learning  the  re- 
vival of  an  interest  in  the  Fables  of  iEsop  is  closely 
identified.  These  fables,  indeed,  were  among  the 
first  writings  of  an  earlier  antiquity  that  attracted 
attention.  They  took  their  place  beside  the  Holy 
Scriptures  and  the  ancient  classic  authors,  in  the 
minds  of  the  great  students  of  that  day.  Lorenzo 


preface. 


XV 


Valla,  one  of  the  most  famous  promoters  of  Italian 
learning,  not  only  translated  into  Latin  the  Iliad  of 
Homer  and  the  Histories  of  Herodotus  and  Thuyci- 
dides,  but  also  the  Fables  of  iEsop. 

These  fables,  again,  were  among  the  books  brought 
into  an  extended  circulation  by  the  agency  of  the 
printing  press.  Bonus  Accursius,  as  early  as  1475- 
1480,  printed  the  collection  of  these  fables,  made  by 
Planudes,  which,  .within  five  years  afterwards,  Cax- 
ton  translated  into  English,  and  printed  at  his  press 
in  W estminster  Abbey,  1485.*  It  must  be  mentioned 
also  that  the  learning  of  this  age  has  left  permanent 
traces  of  its  influence  on  these  fables,  f by  causing 
the  interpolation  with  them  of  some  of  those  amusing 


* Both  these  publications  are  in  the  British  Museum,  and  are  placed  in  the 
library  in  cases  under  glass,  for  the  inspection  of  the  curious. 

t Fables  may  possibly  have  been  not  entirely  unknown  to  the  mediaeval 
scholars.  There  are  two  celebrated  works  which  might  by  some  be  classed 
amongst  works  of  this  description.  The  one  is  the  “Speculum  Sapientiae,” 
attributed  to  St.  Cyril,  Archbishop  of  Jerusalem,  but  of  a considerable  later 
origin,  and  existing  only  in  Latin.  It  is  divided  into  four  books,  and  con- 
sists of  long  conversations  conducted  by  fictitious  characters  under  the 
figures  of  the  beasts  of  the  field  and  forest,  and  aimed  at  the  rebuke  of  par- 
ticular classes  of  men,  the  boastful,  the  proud,  the  luxurious,  the  wrathful, 
etc.  None  of  thej  stories  are  precisely  those  of  AIsop,  and  none  have 
the  concinnity,  terseness,  and  unmistakable  deduction  of  the  lesson  in- 
tended  to  be  taught  by  the  fable,  so  conspicuous  in  the  great  Greek  fabulist. 
The  exact  title  of  the  book  is  this:  “Speculum  Sapientiae,  B.  Cyrilli  Episcopi : 
alias  quadripartitus  apologeticus  vocatus,  in  cujus  quidem  proverbiis  om- 
nis  et  totius  sapientiae  speculum  claret  et  feliciter  incipit.”  The  other  is 
a larger  work  in  two  volumes,  published  in  the  fourteenth  century  by 
Caesar  Heisterbach,  a Cistercian  monk,  under  the  title  of  “Dialogus  Mira- 
culorum,”  reprinted  in  1851.  This  work  consists  of  conversations  in  which 
many  stories  are  interwoven  on  all  kinds  of  subjects.  It  has  no  corres- 
pondence with  the  pure  ^Esopian  fable. 


Preface. 


*vi 

stories  which  were  so  frequently  introduced  into  the 
public  discourses  of  the  great  preachers  of  those  days, 
and  of  which  specimens  are  yet  to  be  found  in  the 
extant  sermons  of  Jean  Raulin,  Meffreth,  and  Ga- 
briel Barlette.*  The  publication  of  this  era  which 
most  probably  has  influenced  these  fables,  is  the 
“Liber  Facetiarum,”f  a book  consisting  of  a hun- 
dred jests  and  stories,  by  the  celebrated  Poggio 
Bracciolini,  published  a.  d.  1471,  from  which  the  two 
fables  of  the  “Miller,  his  Son,  and  the  Ass.”  p.  133, 
and  the  “Fox  and  the  Woodcutter,”  p.  125,  are  un- 
doubtedly selected. 

The  knowledge  of  these  fables  rapidly  spread  from 
Italy  into  Germany,  and  their  popularity  was  in- 
creased by  the  favor  and  sanction  given  to  them  by 
the  great  fathers  of  the  Reformation,  who  frequently 
used  them  as  vehicles  for  satire  and  protest  against 
the  tricks  and  abuses  of  the  Romish  ecclesiastics. 
The  zealous  and  renowned  Camerarius,  who  took  an 
active  part  in  the  preparation  of  the  confession  of 
Augsburgh,  found  time,  amidst  his  numerous  avoca- 
tions, to  prepare  a version  for  the  students  in  the 
university  of  Tubingen,  in  which  he  was  a professor. 

♦Post-mediaeval  Preachers,  by  S.  Baring-Gould.  Rivingtons,  1865. 

•tPor  an  account  of  this  work  see  the  Life  of  Poggio  Bracciolini,  by  tho 
Rev.  William  Shepherd.  Liverpool,  1801. 


Preface . xvii 

Martin  Luther  translated  twenty  of  these  fables,  and 
was  urged  by  Melancthon  to  complete  the  whole; 
while  Gottfried  Arnold,  the  celebrated  Lutheran 
theologian,  and  librarian  to  Frederick  I.,  king  of 
Prussia,  mentions  that  the  great  Reformer  valued 
the  Fables  of  AEsop  next  after  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
In  1546  a.d.  the  second  printed  edition  of  the  collec- 
tion of  the  Fables  made  by  Planudes,  was  issued  from 
the  printing-press  of  Robert  Stephens,  in  which  were 
inserted  some  additional  fables  from  a MS.  in  the 
Bibliotheque  du  Roy  at  Paris. 

The  greatest  advance,  however,  towards  a re-in- 
troduction of  the  Fables  of  JEsop  to  a place  in  the 
literature  of  the  world,  was  made  in  the  early  part 
of  the  seventeenth  century.  In  the  year  1610,  a 
learned  Swiss,  Isaac  Nicholas  Nevelet,  sent  forth  the 
third  printed  edition  of  these  fables,  in  a work  en- 
titled “ Mythologia  .ZEsopica.”  This  was  a noble  ef- 
fort to  do  honor  to  the  great  fabulist,  and  was  the 
most  perfect  collection  of  AEsopian  fables  ever  yet 
published.  It  consisted,  in  addition  to  the  collection 
of  fables  given  by  Planudes  and  reprinted  in  the  vari- 
ous earlier  editions,  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-six 
new  fables  (never  before  published)  from  MSS.  in  the 
Library  of  the  Vatican,  of  forty  fables  attributed  to 
Aphthonius,  and  of  forty-three  from  Rabrias.  It  also 


xviii  Preface . 

contained  the  Latin  versions  of  the  same  fables  by 
Phaedrus,  Avienus,  and  other  authors.  This  volume 
of  Nevelet  forms  a complete  “ Corpus  Fabularum 
JEsopicarum;”  and  to  his  labors  MCsop  owes  his  res- 
toration to  universal  favor  as  one  of  the  wise  mor- 
alists and  great  teachers  of  mankind.  During  the 
interval  of  three  centuries  which  has  elapsed  since 
the  publication  of  this  volume  of  Nevelet’s,  no  book, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  has  had  a 
wider  circulation  than  Hilsop’s  Fables.  They  have 
been  translated  into  the  greater  number  of  the  lan- 
guages both  of  Europe  and  of  the  East,  and  have  been 
read,  and  will  be  read,  for  generations,  alike  by  Jew, 
Heathen,  Mohammedan,  and  Christian.  They  are, 
at  the  present  time,  not  only  engrafted  into  the  lit  - 
erature of  the  civilized  world,  but  are  familiar  as 
household  words  in  the  common  intercourse  and 
daily  conversation  of  the  inhabitants  of  all  countries. 

This  collection  of  Nevelet’s  is  the  great  culminate 
ing  point  in  the  history  of  the  revival  of  the  fame 
and  reputation  of  Aesopian  Fables.  It  is  remarkable, 
also,  as  containing  in  its  preface  the  germ  of  an  idea, 
which  has  been  since  proved  to  have  been  correct  by 
a strange  chain  of  circumstances.  Nevelet  inti- 
mates an  opinion,  that  a writer  named  Babrias  would 
be  found  to  be  the  veritable  author  of  the  existing 


Preface * 


xix 


form  of  JEsopian  Fables.  This  intimation  has  since 
given  rise  to  a series  of  inquiries,  the  knowledge  of 
which  is  necessary,  in  the  present  day,  to  a full  urn 
derstandihg  of  the  true  position  of  H2sop  in  connect 
tion  with  the  writings  that  bear  his  name. 

The  history  of  Babrias  is  so  strange  and  interest- 
ing, that  it  might  not  unfitly  be  enumerated  among 
the  curiosities  of  literature.  He  is  generally  sup- 
posed to  have  been  a Greek  of  Asia  Minor,  of  one  of 
the  Ionic  Colonies,  but  the  exact  period  in  which  he 
lived  and  wrote  is  yet  unsettled.  He  is  placed,  by 
one  critic,*  as  far  back  as  the  institution  of  the 
Achaian  League,  b.c.  250.;  by  another  as  late  as  the 
Emperor  Severus,  who  died  a.d.  235;  while  others 
make  him  a contemporary  with  Phoedrus  in  the  time 
of  Augustus.  At  whatever  time  he  wrote  his  ver- 
sion of  H2sop,  by  some  strange  accident  it  seems  to 
have  entirely  disappeared,  and  to  have  been  lost 
sight  of.  His  name  is  mentioned  by  Avienus;  by 
Suidas,  a celebrated  critic,  at  the  close  of  the  elev- 
enth century,  who  gives  in  his  lexicon  several  iso- 
lated verses  of  his  version  of  the  fables;  and  by  John 
Tzetzes,  a grammarian  and  poet  of  Constantinople, 
who  lived  during  the  latter  half  of  the  twelfth  cen- 


* Professor  Theodore  Bergh.  See  Classical  Museum,  No.  viii.  July,  1849. 


XX 


Preface. 


tury.  1ST evelet,  in  the  preface  to  the  volume  which 
we  have  described,  points  out  that  the  Fables  of 
Planudes  could  not  be  the  work  of  AEsop,  as  they 
contain  a reference  in  two  places  to  “Holy  monks,” 
and  give  a verse  from  the  Epistle  of  St.  James  as  an 
“Epimith”  to  one  of  the  fables,  and  suggests  Babrias 
as  their  author.  Francis  V avassor,  * a learned  French 
jesuit,  entered  at  greater  length  on  this  subject,  and 
produced  further  proofs  from  internal  evidence,  from 
the  use  of  the  word  Piraeus  in  describing  the  harbor 
of  Athens,  a name  which  was  not  given  till  two 
hundred  years  after  AEsop,  and  from  the  introduction 
of  other  modern  words,  that  many  of  these  fables 
must  have  been  at  least  committed  to  writing  pos- 
terior to  the  time  of  AEsop,  and  more  boldly  suggests 
Babrias  as  their  author  or  collector,  f These  various 
references  to  Babrias  induced  Dr.  Richard  Bentley, 
at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  to  examine 
more  minutely  the  existing  versions  of  AEsop’s  Fables, 


* Vavassor’s  treatise,  entitled  uDe  Lndicra  Dictione”  was  written  a.d. 
1658,  at  the  request  of  the  celebrated  M.  Balzac  (though  published  after  his 
death),  l’or  the  purpose  of  showing  that  the  burlesque  style  of  writing  adopt- 
ed by  Scarron  and  D’Assouci,  and  at  that  time  so  popular  in  France,  had  no 
sanction  from  the  ancient  classic  writers.—  M Francisci  Vavassoris  opera 
omnia.”  Amsterdam,  1709. 

+ The  claims  of  Babrias  also  found  a warm  advocate  in  the  learned  French- 
man, M.  Bayle,  who,  in  his  admirable  Dictionary,  (“  Dictionnaire  Historique 
et  Critique  de  Pierre  Bayle.”  Paris,  1820,)  gives  additional  arguments  in 
confirmation  of  the  opinions  of  his  learned  predecessors,  Nevelet  and 
Tavassor. 


Preface . 


xxi 


and  he  maintained  that  many  of  them  could,  with  a 
slight  change  of  words,  be  resolved  into  the  Sca- 
zonic*  iambics,  in  which  Babrias  is  known  to  have 
written:  and,  with  a greater  freedom  than  the  evi- 
dence then  justified,  he  put  forth,  in  behalf  of  Babrias, 
a claim  to  the  exclusive  authorship  of  these  fables. 
Such  a seemingly  extravagant  theory,  thus  roundly 
asserted,  excited  much  opposition.  Dr.  Bentley  f met 
with  an  able  antagonist  in  a member  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Oxford,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Charles  Boyle,];  after- 
wards Earl  of  Orrery.  Their  letters  and  disputations 
on  this  subject,  enlivened  on  both  sides  with  much 
wit  and  learning,  will  ever  bear  a conspicuous  place 
in  the  literary  history  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
The  arguments  of  Dr.  Bentley  were  yet  further  de- 
fended a few  years  later  by  Mr.  Thomas  Tyrwhitt,  a 
well-read  scholar,  who  gave  up  high  civil  distinc- 
tions that  he  might  devote  himself  the  more  unreserv- 
edly to  literary  pursuits.  Mr.  Tyrwhitt  published, 
a.d.  1776,  a Dissertation  on  Babrias,  and  a collec- 


* Scazonic,  or  halting,  iambics;  a choliambic  (a  lame,  halting  iambic)  dif- 
fers from  the  iambic  Senarius  in  always  having  a spondee  or  trochee  for  its 
last  foot;  the  fifth  foot,  to  avoid  shortness  of  metre,  being  generally  an 
iambic.  See  Fables  of  Babrias,  translated  by  Rev.  James  Davies.  Lock- 
wood,  1860.  Preface,  p.  27. 

+ See  Dr.  Bentley’s  Dissertations  upon  the  Epistles  of  Phalaris. 

% Dr.  Bentley’s  Dissertations  on  the  Epistles  of  Phalaris,  and  Fables  of 
4£sop  examined.  By  the  Honorable  Charles  Boyle. 


Preface. 

Mon  of  his  fables  in  choliambic  metre,  found  in  a MU 
in  the  Bodleian  Library  at  Oxford.  Francesco  de 
Furia,  a learned  Italian,  contributed  further  testi- 
mony to  the  correctness  of  the  supposition  that  Bab- 
rias  had  made  a veritable  collection  of  fables  by  print- 
ing from  a MS.  contained  in  the  Vatican  library  sev- 
eral fables  never  before  published.  In  the  year  1844, 
however,  new  and  unexpected  light  was  thrown  upon 
this  subject.  A veritable  copy  of  Babrias  was  found 
in  a manner  as  singular  as  were  the  MSS.  of  Quinc- 
tilian’s  Institutes,  and  of  Cicero’s  Orations  by  Poggio 
in  the  monastery  of  St.  Gall  a.d.  1416.  M.  Menoides, 
at  the  suggestion  of  M.  Villemain,  Minister  of  Public 
Instruction  to  King  Louis  Philippe,  had  been  entrust- 
ed with  a commission  to  search  for  ancient  MSS.,  and 
in  carrying  out  his  instructions  he  found  a MS.  at  the 
convent  of  St.  Laura,  on  Mount  Athos,  which  proved 
to  be  a copy  of  the  long  suspected  and  wished-for 
choliambic  version  of  Babrias.  This  MS.  was  found 
to  be  divided  into  two  books,  the  one  containing  one 
hundred  and  twenty -five,  and  the  other  ninety-five 
fables.  This  discovery  attracted  very  general  atten- 
tion, not  only  as  confirming,  in  a singular  manner, 
the  conjectures  so  boldly  made  by  a long  chain  of 
critics,  but  as  bringing  to  light  valuable  literary  treas- 
ures tending  to  establish  the  reputation,  and  to  con- 


I 


Preface.  xxiii 

firm  the  antiquity  and  authenticity  of  the  great  mass 
of  iEsopian  Fable.  The  Fables  thus  recovered  were 
soon  published.  They  found  a most  worthy  editor 
in  the  late  distinguished  Sir  George  Cornewall  Lewis, 
and  a translator  equally  qualified  for  his  task,  in  the 
Reverend  James  Davies,  M.A.,  sometime  a scholar 
of  Lincoln  College,  Oxford,  and  himself  a relation  of 
their  English  editor.  Thus,  after  an  eclipse  of  many 
centuries,  Babrias  shines  out  as  the  earliest,  and 
most  reliable  collector  of  veritable  Aesopian  Fables. 

Having  thus  given  a complete  synopsis  of  the 
origin,  descent,  and  history  of  these  fables,  it  only 
remains  to  explain  the  reasons  which  have  induced 
the  Publishers  to  prepare  a new  edition  of  ASsop,  and 
to  state  the  grounds  on  which  they  hope  to  establish 
a claim  for  support  and  public  approval  in  their  un- 
dertaking. They  boldly  assert  that  the  new  light 
thrown  upon  these  fables  by  the  discovery  of  the 
metrical  version  by  Babrias,  renders  a new  transla- 
tion an  inevitable  necessity.  The  two  chief  existing 
English  versions  of  HCsop  are  those  by  Archdeacon 
Croxall,  and  by  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  James,  canon 
of  Peterborough.  The  first  of  these  deviates  so  very  # 
far  from  the  text,  that  it  degenerates  into  a parody. 
The  fables  are  so  padded,  diluted,  and  altered,  as  to 
give  very  little  idea  to  the  reader  either  of  the  terse- 


XXIV 


Preface. 


ness  or  the  meaning  of  the  original.  The  second  of 
these  is  an  improvement  on  its  predecessor,  but  Mr. 
James,  either  out  of  compliance  with  the  wishes  of 
the  publishers,  or  in  condescension  to  the  taste  prev- 
alent some  twenty  years  ago,  has  so  freely  intro- 
duced as  the  point  of  the  fable  conventional  English 
sayings  which  are  not  sanctioned  by  the  Greek,  and 
which  in  many  instances  are  scarcely  equivalent  to 
it,  that  his  version  frequently  approaches  a para- 
phrase rather  than  a translation. 

The  Publishers  therefore  ground  their  first  claim  for 
public  approval  on  the  necessity  for  a new  transla- 
tion. They  trust  further  that  their  present  work  will 
have  met  that  necessity  in  a satisfactory  manner. 
They  have  sought  to  give  as  nearly  a literal  transla- 
tion as  possible  of  the  Greek  text;  and  they  hope  that 
if  the  reader  should  miss  the  smoothness  and  thor- 
oughly English  tone  which  characterized  the  pre- 
vious version  of  these  fables,  he  will  be  more  than 
repaid,  by  gaining  a nearer  approach  to  the  spirit, 
thoughts,  and  (in  some  cases)  to  the  epigrammatic 
terseness  of  the  original.  The  publishers  trust  to 
vindicate,  on  another  ground,  their  claims  to  a share 
of  public  patronage.  They  have  inserted  an  hun- 
dred new  fables,  and  they  have  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  this  edition,  on  which  they  have  spared 


Preface . 


xxv 


no  pains  nor  cost,  will  afford  a larger  choice,  and 
greater  variety,  to  the  numerous  and  increasing  cir- 
cle of  the  admirers  of  iEsopian  Fables.  Whatever 
be  the  result  of  their  labors,  they  will  be  content  to 
have  contributed  towards  promoting  a wider  ac- 
quaintance with  fables,  the  wisdom,  excellency,  and 
wonderful  suitableness  of  which  to  every  condition 
of  humanity  has  been  attested  and  confirmed  by  the 
experience  of  so  many  generations;  and,  which,  in 
all  ages  amidst  the  ever  changing  fluctuations  of 
human  opinion,  are  adapted  alike  to  amuse  the  young, 
and  to  instruct  the  thoughtful,  and  are  well  fitted  to 
teach  all  who  study  them  lessons  useful  for  their 
guidance  in  every  position  of  political,  social,  civil, 
or  domestic  life. 

The  Editor  must  claim  the  privilege  of  adding  a 
few  words  on  a matter  personal  to  himself.  He  has 
already  within  the  last  few  months  been  connected 
with  one  edition  of  HCsop,  and  it  may  seem  strange 
that  he  should  be  willing  to  undertake  the  superin- 
tendence of  another.  His  answer  is,  that  the  two 
works  on  which  he  has  been  engaged  were  totally 
distinct,  and  entirely  independent  of  each  other.  The 
first  was  a request  to  furnish  new  morals  and  appli- 
cations to  a definite  number  of  fables;  the  other  was 
a commission  to  add  a large  number  of  additional 


Preface. 


\ 

icxvi 

fables  and  to  make  a wholly  new  translation.  The 
necessity  of  a new  and  improved  translation  the 
Editor  then  recognized,  and  would  have  willingly 
undertaken.  It  was  a wish  he  had  much  at  heart, 
and  when  the  proposal  was  voluntarily  made  to  him 
by  the  present  Publishers  to  undertake  the  task  of 
a new  translation  of  an  enlarged  number  of  .Esop’s 
Fables,  he  saw  no  reason  for  refusing  the  offer  be- 
cause of  his  prior  discharge  of  a totally  different  de- 
sign; and  he  resolved  to  comply  with  the  request 
submitted  to  him,  and  to  do  his  best  toward  the  at- 
tainment of  so  desirable  an  object  as  a purer  trans- 
lation, and  more  literal  rendering  of  fables  so  justly 
celebrated. 

The  following  are  the  sources  from  which  the  pres- 
ent translation  has  been  prepared: 

Babrii  Fabulae  ^Esopeae.  George  Cornewall  Lewis.  Oxford,  1846. 

Babrii  Fabulae  iEsopeae.  E codice  manuscripto  partem  secundam  edidit 
George  Cornewall  Lewis.  London : Parker,  1857. 

Mythologica  iEsopica.  Opera  et  studia  Isaaci  Nicholai  Neveleti.  Frank* 
fort,  1610. 

Fabulae  iEsopiacae,  guales  ante  Planudem  ferebantur  cura  et  studio 
Francisci  de  Furia.  Lipsiae,  1810. 

Ex  recognitione  Caroli  Halmii.  Lipsiae,  1851. 

Phaedri  Fabulae  Esopiae.  Delphin  Classics.  1&&. 


THE  LIFE  OF  ASOP. 


The  knowledge  of  the  Egyptians  was  concealed 
'j.i  hieroglyphics  and  other  mysterious  characters ; 
that  of  the  Grecians  in  symbols  and  emblematical 
allusions  ; but  iEsop,  having  penetrated  through  the 
veil  they  had  thrown  over  her,  brought  all  their  mys- 
teries to  light,  and  wrapped  them  up  in  fables.  His 
life,  as  recorded  by  Planudes  and  other  writers  of 
antiquity,  is  here  faithfully  presented  to  the  public. 

He  was  born  at  Ammonius,  in  Phrygia  the  Great- 
er ; a town  in  itself  obscure,  though,  from  its  being 
the  birthplace  of  vEsop,  might  successfully  have 
entered  into  competition  as  a rival  with  those  cities 
that  with  a noble  emulation  contended  for  the  birth 
of  Homer. 

All  agree  that  his  person  was  uncommonly  de- 
formed, insomuch  that  the  Thersites  of  Homer 
seems  to  be  but  an  imperfect  transcript  of  him.  His 
head  was  long,  nose  flat,  lips  thick  and  pendent,  a 
hump  back,  and  complexion  dark,  from  which  he 
contracted  his  name  (A£sopus  being  the  same  with 
<35thiops),  large  belly,  and  bow  legs  ; but  his  great- 
est infirmity  was,  that  his  speech  was  slow,  inartic- 
ulate, and  very  obscure.  Such  was  the  person  of 
JEsop.  But,  as  Nature  often  sets  the  most  refulgent 
gems  where  they  would  be  least  expected,  so  she  en- 
dowed this  extraordinary  man  with  an  accomplished 


xxviii 


Life  of  JEsop. 


mind,  capable  of  the  most  sublime  and  elevated 
ideas.  His  station  in  life  also,  as  well  as  his  person, 
was  mean  and  contemptible ; the  former  part  of 
which  was  spent  in  the  most  abject  poverty,  and  the 
latter  in  slavery,  till  a few  years  before  his  death. 

His  first  master  (under  whose  dominion  he  then 
groaned),  finding  him  incapable  of  any  domestic 
business,  employed  him  in  the  field,  where,  not  long 
after,  he  gave  the  first  testimony  of  his  ingenuity. 
It  happened  one  day,  when  his  master  was  walking 
in  the  field,  that  a laborer  presented  him  with  some 
delicious  figs ; which  he  immediately  gave  to  the 
care  of  Agathopodus  (another  of  his  servants) 
till  he  returned  from  the  bath.  But  he,  in  league 
with  his  fellow-servant,  agreed  to  eat  them,  and  lay 
the  guilt  upon  iEsop.  When  the  master  returned, 
they  loudly  accused  ASsop  of  eating  the  figs.  The 
master,  enraged,  sent  for  A3sop,  and  asked  him 
what  could  induce  him  to  eat  the  figs  he  had  ordered 
to  be  reserved?  Not  answering  readily  in  his  de- 
fence, he  was  ordered  to  be  punished.  But,  falling 
at  his  master’s  feet,  he  implored  him  to  suspend  the 
punishment.  In  which  interval  he  ran  and  fetched 
some  warm  water,  and  drank  it ; then,  putting  his 
finger  down  his  throat,  he  caused  the  water  to  re- 
turn, for  he  had  eaten  nothing  that  day.  He  then 
requested  that  his  accusers  might  be  ordered  to  do 
the  same  ; which,  his  master  approving,  they  were 
told  to  do  ; and  the  consequence  was,  that  ASsop's 
innocence  was  apparent,  and  his  enemies  were  given 
to  the  punishment  they  justly  deserved. 

The  day  following  his  master  returned  to  the  city, 
and  ACsop  was  remanded  to  his  labor  ; when  he  met 
two  priests  of  Diana  who  had  lost  their  way.  They 


Life  of  JEsop. 


xxix 


commanded  him,  in  the  name  of  Jove,  to  direct  them 
into  the  most  regular  track;  which  he  not  only  per- 
formed, but  refreshed  them  with  meat ; for  which 
kindness  he  gained  ’their  good  wishes,  as  well  as 
their  prayers. 

^Esop,  returning  to  his  task,  oppressed  with  care 
and  labor,  lay  down  to  sleep;  and  in  a dream  beheld 
Fortune  standing  by  him,  gratifying  him  with  volu- 
bility of  language,  and  the  ability  of  wrapping  up 
his  ideas  in  the  form  of  apologues.  Immediately 
starting  up,  he  exclaimed,  “O  wonderful!  in  what  a 
charming  trance  have  I been  ; for,  behold,  I speak 
fluently,  and  can  register  each  creature  by  its  name. 
This  certainly  is  the  reward  of  my  compliance  and 
kindness  to  the  strangers.”  Overjoyed,  he  went  to 
his  labor.  Having  committed  some  fault,  Zenas 
(overseer  of  the  field)  struck  him. — “ You  are 
always,”  said  ^Esop,  “punishing  him  that  offends 
you  not.  If  my  master  knew  it,  he  would,  no  doubt, 
revenge  these  stripes.”  Zenas,  filled  with  enmity, 
and  astonished  to  hear  him  speak  fluently,  resolved 
(by  way  of  prevention,  lest  he  should  be  discharged 
as  an  unjust  steward,)  to  accuse  him  to  his  master; 
whom,  not  long  after,  he  accosted,  desiring  the  gods 
to  protect  him.  Upon  which  his  master  inquired, 
what  it  was  that  discomposed  him?  Zenas  replied, 

Something  wonderful  in  the  field.”  The  master 
asked,  what  the  wonder  could  be?  He  answered, 
“iEsop,  who  was  thought  dumb,  has  now  found 
utterance  and  elocution.”  His  master  observed, 
“This  will  be  ruinous  to  thee,  in  whose  estimation 
he  was  reputed  a monster.”  Zenas  rejoined,  “What 
he  hath  spite  fully  spoken  against  me  I should  have 
buried  in  silence ; but  against  you  and  the  gods  he 


XXX 


Life  of  JEsop. 


hath  uttered  intolerable  curses.”  This  so  incensed 
his  master,  that  he  ordered  him  to  be  sold  for  a slave 
as  a recompense  for  his  ingratitude  and  impiety. 

No  sooner  had  Zenas  got  AEsop  in  his  power  than 
he  informed  him  how  lie  was  to  be  disposed  of.  To 
whom  he  replied,  “Do  your  pleasure.”  Shortly 
after  which  a merchant,  coming  to  buy  cattle,  met 
Zenas  ; who  told  him,  that  though  he  had  no  cattle, 
he  had  a man  slave  to  sell.  The  merchant,  hearing 
this,  desired  to  see  him.  AEsop  being  introduced,  he 
burst  into  laughter,  saying,  “ Had  I not  been  con- 
vinced by  his  voice,  I should  have  taken  him  for  a 
blown  bladder.  Why  did  you  draw  me  aside  to 
shock  my  eyes  with  such  a deformed  monster?  ” As 
he  departed,  AEsop  desired  him  to  stop.  The  mer- 
chant replied,  “Be  gone,  you  filthy  cur.”  AEsop 
then  requested  to  know  for  what  cause  he  came 
thither.  He  replied,  “To  buy  something  of  value, 
not  such  a worthless  thing  as  thou  art.”  AEsop  then 
pressed  him  to  buy  him,  promising  he  should  find 
him  worth  his  money.  The  merchant  desired  him 
to  explain  himself.  “Have. you  at  home,”  said 

AEsop,  “any  testy  children?  — I shall  supply  the 
place  of  bugbear,  to  terrify  them  into  silence.” 
Zenas  was  then  asked,  what  he  would  take  for  that 
uncouth  creature?  “ Three  half-pence,”  said  he. 
The  merchant  paid  the  price,  observing  that  with 
nothing  he  had  bought  nothing. 

When  they  were  come  near  home,  two  of  the  mer- 
chant’s children,  seeing  AEsop,  testified  their  fear  of 
him  by  crying.  “ Now,  sir,”  said  AEsop,  “you  see 
the  effect  of  my  promise.”  As  they  went  into  the 
house  the  merchant,  smiling,  commanded  AEsop  to 
salute  his  fellow-servants;  who,  when  they  beheld 


Life  of  JEsop. 


xxxi 


his  deformity,  exclaimed  “What  could  induce  my 
master  to  bring  such  a wretch  into  his  family  ! ” 

Shortly  after  this  the  merchant  ordered  all  things 
to  be  got  ready  for  an  intended  journey  into  Asia. 
When  they  were  assigning  to  each  servant  his  pro- 
portion of  burden,  JEsop  desired  (it  being  his  first 
time)  that  he  might  have  the  lightest.  His  request 
being  granted,  he  took  up  the  basket  of  bread;  at 
which  the  other  slaves  laughed,  considering  that 
burden  enough  for  two.  But  when  dinner-time  ap- 
proached, JEsop,  (who  had  with  great  difficulty  sus- 
tained his  load)  was  commanded  to  set  it  down,  and 
distribute  an  equal  share  of  the  bread  to  the  other 
slaves.  His  load  being  thus  diminished  one  half,  he 
pursued  his  journey  with  pleasure.  At  supper-time 
he  was  again  ordered  to  distribute  of  his  load;  after 
which  (the  basket  being  emptied)  the  next  morning 
he  led  the  van,  and  obliged  those,  who  before  had 
treated  him  with  contempt,  to  applaud  his  ingenu- 
ity. 

Being  arrived  at  Ephesus,  and  having  sold  divers 
of  his  slaves  to  good  advantage,  the  merchant  was 
persuaded  to  sail  with  the  last  three  to  Samos ; 
namely,  Cantor,  a native  of  Cappadocia,,  and  Gram- 
maticus, born  in  Lydia;  two  persons  of  large  dimen- 
sions; and  JEsop,  whose  character  was  before  de- 
scribed. Now,  in  order  that  he  might  the  better  sell 
the  two  former,  he  dressed  them  in  new  clothes;  but 
(supposing  that  no  art  could  improve  him)  he 
clothed  JEsop  in  sackcloth,  which  exposed  him  as 
well  to  derision  as  to  sale.  Among  those  who  came 
to  buy  was  Xanthus,  an  eminent  philosopher  of 
Samos,  attended  with  his  scholars;  who,  having 
viewed  the  slaves,  and  seeing  JEsop  placed  in  the 


xxxii 


Life  of  JEsop. 


midst,  supposed  he  was  set  there  that  the  other  two 
might  appear  to  a greater  advantage. 

The  philosopher  first  addressed  himself  to  Cantor, 
demanding  what  he  could  perform.  ‘‘All  things.” 
said  he.  Xanthus  then  demanded  what  price  was 
set  upon  him.  The  merchant  replied,  “A  thousand 
half-pence.”  Xanthus,  displeased  at  the  price,  went 
to  the  other,  and  asked  him  what  he  could  do.  He 
also  replied,  “All  things.”  The  philosopher  then 
asked  the  price  of  Grammaticus.  He  was  told, 
“three  thousand  half-pence.”  Xanthus,  thinking 
this  also  too  much,  declared  he  would  buy  no 
servants  that  were  rated  at  so  high  a price. 
Upon  which  the  scholars  suggested  to  Xanthus  to 
buy  ASsop,  saying  they  would  pay  for  him.  “ ’T  is 
not  fit,”  said  Xanthus,  “that  I should  buy  him,  and 
you  make  good  the  payment.  Besides,  my  wife 
would  be  much  displeased  to  have  such  a misshapen 
person  to  wait  upon  her.”  The  scholars  replied, 
“We  are  not  always  obliged  to  comply  with  the  de- 
sires of  a woman;  therefore  let  us  examine  this  de- 
formed creature.  ” Xanthus,  turning  to  ACsop,  bid 
him  be  comforted.  “Was  I ever  sad?”  replied 
ACsop.  “ Of  what  place  are  you  a native?”  said  the 
philosopher.  “ I am  a negro,”  said  A3sop.  “I  do 
not  ask  you  that,  but  where  you  were  born.”  A3sop 
answered,  “Of  my  mother,”  “Neither  did  I ask 
that,”  said  Xanthus,  “but  what  place  were  you  born 
in?”  “My  mother  never  informed  me  whether 
above  or  below.”  “What  can  you  perform?”  “Noth- 
ing,” replied  ASsop;  “the  two  former  having  told 
ydu  they  can  do  all  things,  there  remains  nothing 
for  me  to  do.”  “Are  you  willing,”  said  Xanthus, 
“ that  I should  buy  you?  ” “ You  ought,”  answered 


XXX111 


* 

Life  of  JEsop. 

iEsop,  “ to  judge  for  yourself.  Why  do  you  ask 
me?  If  you  are  willing,  pay  down  the  price,  and 
make  an  end  of  the  business.”  “ If  I buy  you,”  said 
Xanthus,  “ you  will  try  to  escape.”  “ If  I do,”  said 
ASsop,  “ I shall  not  come  to  you  for  advice,  as  you 
do  now  to  me.”  “But  thou  art  deformed!”  “A 
philosopher?”  replied  ASsop,  “ should  not  only  view 
the  body,  but  examine  the  mind.”  The  scholars, 
pleased  with  his  ingenious  replies,  again  requested 
Xanthus  to  buy  him.  He  therefore  asked  the  mer- 
chant what  price  was  set  upon  him;  who  answered, 
“ Surely  thy  design  is  to  debase  my  commodities. 
Thou  hast  declined  the  best  to  take  the  worst.” 
However,  Xanthus,  desirous  of  buying  him,  again 
asked  the  price  ; which,  when  known,  the  scholars 
paid,  and  Xanthus  took  him  into  possession. 

When  they  came  near  home  Xanthus  commanded 
A2sop  to  wait  in  the  porch,  lest  his  deformity  should 
offend  his  wife  ; whom  Xanthus  thus  addressed  : — 
“ Mistress,  you  shall  have  no  cause  for  the  future  to 
be  discontented,  for  there  is  a servant  in  the  porch 
as  handsome  as  ever  was  beheld.”  At  this  the 
maids  smiled,  and  contended  who  should  first  oblige 
him.  The  wife  of  Xanthus  ordered  one  of  them  to 
fetch  him.  ASsop.  overhearing  her,  prepared  to  en- 
ter. The  maid,  amazed  at  his  deformity,  cried, 
“Art  thou  he?”  “ Yes,  sure,”  said  AEsop.  “Enter 
not,”  replied  the  maid,  “ unless  you  mean  to  fright- 
ed us  all  out  of  the  house.”  But  AEsop  persisted, 
and  appeared  before  his  mistress,  who,  upon  seeing 
him,  thus  addressed  Xanthus:  — “What  monster  is 
this  you  have  brought?  Discharge  him  instantly.” 
At  the  same  time  declaring  he  had  much  offended 
her,  and  desiring  he  would  return  that  with  which 


she  had  enriched  him,  and  she  would  abandon  that 
unhappy  mansion.  On  this  Xanthus  rebuked  A2sop, 
who  had  discovered  so  much  ingenuity  before,  that 
he  was  so  silent  now.  “ Cast  her  off,”  said  ACsop. 
“Away  with  you,  villain,”  replied  he.  “My  love 
and  my  life  is  so  incorporated  into  hers,  as  if  one 
heart  alone  managed  two  bodies.”  At  which  A2sop, 
stamping,  said  that  Xanthus  was  under  the  domin- 
ion of  his  wife ; and  turning  to  his  mistress,  said, 
“You,  madam,  would  have  had  the  philosopher 
have  brought  you  a young,  handsome  fellow, 
whose  attractions  might  feed  your  vanity,  but  at  the 
same  time  might  endanger  his  reputation.  Oh, 
Euripides,  thy  mouth  was  a golden  one,  for  these 
words  came  out  of  it ! — ‘ Great  is  the  effort  of  the 
sea’  when  its  waves  swell  into  sedition,  and  obey  no 
law  ; and  the  flame  or  impression  of  devouring  fire; 
poverty,  is  a ruinous  condition  ; and  there  are  many 
things  intolerable,  but  nothing  equal  to  an  impetu- 
ous woman.’  You,  being  the  wife  of  a philososher, 
should  not  be  attended  by  such  persons  as  would 
bring  philosophy  itself  into  disrepute.”  She,  being 
unable  to  contradict  him,  asked  Xanthus  where  he 
had  purchased  this  beauty.  “The  handsomeness  of 
his  ingenuity,”  said  she,  “doth  recompense  for  the  de- 
formity of  his  person  : my  dislike  of  him  is  extin- 
guished.” “ Your  mistress,”  said  Xanthus  to  ACsop, 
“is  now  reconciled.”  ACsop  ironically  replied,  “ ’Tis 
a difficult  matter  sure  to  appease  a woman.”  “ For 
the  future,”  said  Xanthus,  “be  silent;  I bought  you  to 
obey,  not  to  contradict.” 

The  day  following,  Xanthus,  going  to  the  garden 
to  buy  herbs,  commanded  ACsop  to  accompany  him. 
When  the  gardener  had  gathered  the  herbs,  he  en- 


XXXV 


X 

Life  of  J&opv^ 

trusted  them  to  iEsop.  When  they  were  paid  for, 
the  gardener  asked  Xanthus  what  was  the  natural 
reason  that  the  herbs  that  he  planted  did  not  im- 
prove with  that  quick  and  active  growth,  as  those 
which  were  Nature’s  voluntary  production  ? Xan- 
thus, not  being  able  to  answer  the  question,  thus 
replied: — “It  thus  happened  from  that  order  and 
series  of  Providence  that  threaded  together  inferior 
causes  and  their  effects.”  — At  which  A£sop  smiled. 
“ Do  you  laugh  at  me?  ” said  Xanthus.  “ I laugh  at 
you,”  answered  he,  “and  not  you  only,  but  him  that 
taught  you.”  Upon  which  Xanthus,  addressing 
himself  to  the  gardener,  said,  “It  is  not  fit  for  me, 
who  have  disputed  in  learned  auditories,  to  unravel 
questions  in  a garden.  My  servant  here  will  solve 
the  difficulty.”  The  gardener  replied,  “ Is  there  any 
knowledge  treasured  up  in  this  sordid  vessel?  ” At 
which  iEsop  was  offended,  and  asked  the  gardener 
this  question  : “When  a widow  is  engaged  in  sec- 

ond nuptials  she  is  mother  to  the  issue  of  her  first 
marriage,  but  stepmother  to  the  children  of  her  sec- 
ond husband.  Those,  to  whom  by  the  proper  obli- 
gations of  Nature  her  affections  are  entitled,  she 
affects  and  values  more  than  those  to  whom  she  is 
mother  only  by  accidental  relation.  So  it  is  here  — 
the  earth  is  a stepmother  to  those  plants  which  are 
incorporated  into  her  womb  by  art,  but  a mother  to 
those  which  are  her  own  free  production.”  The  gar- 
dener was  so  well  satisfied  with  his  reply  that  he 
gave  him  liberty  to  gather  what  herbs  he  might  at 
any  time  want,  as  a recompense. 

Some  days  after  this,  Xanthus,  having  met  with 
some  friends  at  the  bath,  and  intending  to  invite 
them  to  dinner,  ordered  iEsop  to  go  directly  home, 


of  JEsop. 

*T 'rr 

and  boil  some  lentils.  He  went,  as  enjoined,  and 
only  boiled  one.  Xanthus,  after  bathing,  accord- 
ingly invited  his  friends,  informing  them,  that 
though  their  fare  would  be  scanty,  yet  he  was  confi- 
dent they  would  take  the  will  for  the  deed.  When 
they  came  home  Xanthus  ordered  JEsop  to  bring 
something  to  drink;  who,  taking  some  water  from 
the  stream  of  the  bath,  presented  it  to  Xanthus ; at 
which  he  was  offended,  and  asked  JEsop  where  he 
brought  it  from  ? “ From  the  bath/’  said  JEsop. 

Xanthus,  on  account  of  his  friends,  concealed  his 
anger,  and  called  for  a basin,  which  JEsop  having 
brought,  stood  still.  Xanthus  asked  him,  “ Do  you 
not  wash?  ” He  replied,  “ T is  for  you  to  command, 
me  to  obey,  but  to  put  water  in  the  basin  was  no 
part  of  the  command.”  Upon  which  Xanthus  asked 
his  friends  whether  they  thought  he  had  bought  a 
servant:  who  replied,  that,  in  their  opinion,  he  had 
rather  purchased  a master.  Xanthus  now  asked  if 
dinner  was  ready  ? When  JEsop,  putting  the  lentil 
into  a shell,  presented  it  to  his  master ; who,  having 
tried  if  it  was  boiled  enough,  ordered  him  to  serve 
up  the  rest.  JEsop  immediately  put  the  broth  into 
saucers,  and  brought  them  to  Xanthus  ; who  asked 
where  the  lentils  were?  “You  have  it  already,” 
replied  JEsop.  “Did  you  boil  but  one?”  said  his 
master.  “ Xo  more,  sir,”  said  JEsop;  “Your  com- 
mand was  in  the  singular  number.”  At  which  Xan- 
thus incensed,  exclaimed,  “ This  fellow  is  enough 
to  drive  me  mad  ! but,  that  I may  not  deceive  my 
friends,  go  instantly,  and  buy  four  hogs’  feet,  and 
boil  them.”  Which  JEsop  cheerfully  did.  Now, 
while  they  were  boiling,  Xanthus,  wishing  to  find 
some  cause  of  complaint,  in  JEsop’s  absence  took 


Life  of  JEsop.  xxxvii 

out  one  of  the  feet ; which  JEsop  on  his  return  miss- 
ed, and,  suspecting  the  design,  ran  to  an  adjacent 
hog-sty,  and,  cutting  off  one  of  the  feet  of  a fatted 
hog,  singed  it,  and  put  it  into  the  pot.  Xanthus, 
suspecting  that  JEsop,  on  the  discovery,  would  run 
away,  put  the  foot  in  again.  So  that,  when  JEsop 
came  to  serve  them  up  on  the  table,  he  found  there 
were  five.  Upon  which  Xanthus  inquired  by  what 
means  they  were  multiplied.  JEsop  answered  by 
asking,  “ How  many  feet  have  two  .hogs  ?” — His 
master  replied,  “ Eight.”  “ Here,  then,”  said  JEsop, 
“ are  five  present,  and  yon  fatted  hog  hath  the  other 
three.”  Xanthus,  being  more  enraged  at  this,  ex- 
claimed, “ Did  not  I say  this  fellow  would  drive  me 
mad  ? ” 

Shortly  afterwards  one  of  the  scholars  invited 
Xanthus  and  his  fellow  students  to  a feast ; wTiere 
Xanthus,  wishing  to  reconcile  the  difference  he  had 
occasioned  when  he  first  returned,  sent  JEsop  with  a 
choice  dish  to  his  mistress,  telling  him  to  give  it  to 
her  that  loved  him  best.  JEsop  went ; and,  seating 
himself  in  the  porch,  called  his  mistress,  and  showed 
her  the  present  Xanthus  had  sent  to  her  that  loved 
him  best.  “But  this,”  said  he,  “madam,  is  not  for 
you.”  Then,  calling  his  master’s  bitch,  Lyceena,  he 
cast  it  down,  and  bid  her  eat  it.  At  his  return  Xan- 
thus asked  him  whether  he  had  done  as  he  was  or- 
dered ? He  said,  “Yes,  and  she  swallowed  it  in  my 
presence,”  His  master  then  inquired  what  she  said. 
“ Nothing  to  me,”  said  JEsop,  “but  to  you  she  re- 
turns her  thanks.”  This  so  offended  his  mistress 
that  she  determined  to  leave  the  house.  In  the 
mean  time,  while  they  were  ail  heated  with  wine, 
one  of  the  company  asked,  when  would  be  the  time 


xxxviii 


Life  of  JEsop. 


of  the  greatest  confusion  among  mortals  ? Asop 
replied,  “When  the  dead  rise  and  attempt  to  trace 
out  their  ancient  possessions.”  At  which  the  schol- 
ars-smiled.  Another  asked  why  sheep  lie  so  calmly, 
and  swine  with  such  an  offensive  noise  ? “ The 
sheep,”  answered  Asop,  “ being  used  to  be  shorn, 
are  silent,  and  expect  nothing  but  what  is  customary; 
but  swine,  unaccustomed  to  be  handled,  when  they 
are  killed,  make  an  hideous  noise.”  The  scholars 
were  so  pleased  with  his  answers  that  they  burst  in- 
to laughter.  Supper  being  over,  Xantbus  returned 
home,  and  would  have  saluted  his  wife  ; but  she,  be- 
ing highly  offended  at  what  had  passed,  told  him 
she  would  have  nothing  to  say  to  him,  who,  instead 
of  sending  her  his  dainties,  had  sent  them  to  his  dog. 
Xanthus,  surprised,  asked  Asop  to  whom  he  had 
presented  them  ; who  replied,  “To  her  that  loves  you 
best.”  Then,  calling  the  spaniel,  “This  is  she,”  said 
he,  “for,  though  you  load  her  with  stripes,  yet  still 
she  fawns  upon  and  accompanies  you.  You  should 
have  told  me  to  present  them  to  your  wife.” — “You 
are  now  convinced,  mistress,”  said  Xanthus,  “it 
was  not  my  fault  that  the  present  miscarried.  Bear 
the  disappointment  with  patience,  and  I will  take 
an  opportunity  of  avenging  it  upon  Asop.”  But 
this  did  not  satisfy  his  wife.  She  therefore  went  to 
her  father;  which  caused  Asop  to  triumph,  saying, 
“ Now,  sir  you  see  which  loves  you  best.” 

After  this  Asop,  observing  his  master  uneasy  on 
account  of  his  wife’s  departure,  told  him  not  to  be 
unhappy,  for  that  he  would  soon  bring  her  back 
again.  For  which  purpose  he  set  off  to  market,  and 
purchased  fowls,  geese,  &c.  With  these  he  inten- 
tionally went  to  the  house  where  his  mistress  resided 


Life  of  JEsop. 


xxxix 


and  asked  the  servants  if  they  had  anything  to  sell 
that  would  add  to  the  magnificence  of  a wedding 
feast  he  was  about  to  provide.  They  inquiring 
whose  marriage  was  going  to  be  celebrated,  he  re- 
plied, “ Xanthus  means  to  celebrate  his  second  nup- 
tials to-morrow.”  This  intelligence  soon  reached 
the  ear  of  his  wife;  and  filled  her  so  with  jealousy 
that  she  flew  home,  and  declared  that  no  second  es- 
pousals of  liis  should  be  established  but  upon  her 
urn.  Thus  JEsop,  who  was  the  occasion  of  her  de- 
parture, was  the  cause  of  her  hasty  return. 

Not  long  after  Xanthus  invited  his  scholars  to  din- 
ner, and  ordered  .dSsop  to  furnish  the  feast  with  the 
choicest  dainties;  who  while  fulfilling  the  command 
of  his  master,  was  studying  how  to  expose  his  folly. 
He  therefore  laid  out  the  money  in  tongues,  which 
he  served  up  accompanied  with  a poignant  sauce. 

The  scholars  much  commended  his  first  course,  as 
it  furnished  them  with  matter  for  conversation;  but 
the  second  and  third  being  the  same,  the  guests 
were  astonished  as  well  as  their  master ; who  in- 
quired if  there  was  nothing  provided  but  tongues  ? 
iEsop  replied,  “Nothing  else.” — ‘ Thou  lump  of  de- 
formity,” said  Xanthus,  “ did  I not  command  you  to 
prepare  the  choicest  dainties?”  — “Sir,”  said  JEsop, 
“your  reproof  before  philosophers  deserves  my 
thanks.  What  excels  the  tongue?  It  is  the  great 
channel  of  learning  and  philosophy.  By  this  noble 
organ  addresses,  commerce,  contracts,  eulogies,  and 
marriages,  are  completely  established.  On  this 
moves  life  itself.  Therefore  nothing  is  equal  to  the 
tongue.”  The  scholars,  departing,  declared  that  the 
philosophy  excelled  that  ol  Xanthus. 


xl 


Life  of  JEsop. 


Some  time  after  this  Xanthus,  perceiving  the  dis- 
satisfaction of  his  scholars,  told  them  it  was  not  his 
design  so  to  have  treated  them.  “But  now,”  said 
lie,  “ I have  ordered  my  servant  to  procure  the 
worst  meats  for  supper.”  ^Esop,  however,  (constant 
to  his  purpose,)  again  provided  tongues.  Xanthus, 
more  incensed  still,  asked  him  if  this  was  the  enter- 
tainment he  had  ordered  ? To  which  .Esop  replied 
that  he  had  exactly  fulfilled  his  commands.  “For 
what,”  said  he,  “is  worse  than  the  tongue?  Is  it 
not  frequently  the  ruin  of  empires,  cities,  and  pri- 
vate connections?  Is  it  not  the  conveyance  of  cal- 
umnies and  forgeries?  In  short,  is  it  not  the  grand 
disturber  of  civil  society?”  When  the  scholars 
heard  his  reply,  they  declared  that  the  deformity  of 
his  body  was  but  the  transcript  of  his  distorted  and 
irregular  manners ; and  gave  Xanthus  a caution, 
lest  his  behavior  should  drive  him  out  of  his  mind. 
To  whom  Esop  observed,  that  their  speech  betrayed 
their  malice,  by  endeavoring  to  cause  discontent  be- 
tween him  and  his  master. 

Xanthus,  still  desirous  to  revenge  himself  for 
these  affronts,  again  sought  for  cause  to  complain  of 
Esop;  and  commanded  him  (since  he  had  accused 
the  scholars  of  officiousness)  to  find  a man  that  re- 
garded nothing.  The  next  day,  while  traversing  the 
streets,  sop  discovered  Eone  sitting  in  a negligent 
posture,  void  of  reflection.  This  man  Esop  accost- 
ed, and  invited  to  dinner  with  his  master.  The 
clown,  without  hesitation,  followed  him,  and  sat 
down  at  his  master’s  table  in  his  mean  attire.  Xan- 
thus  immediately  asked  who  this  guest  was?  Esop 
replied,  “ It  is  a person  regardless.”  Xanthus  then 
desired  his  wife  to  wash  the  stranger’s  feet,  think* 


Life  of  JEsop. 


xli 


in g he  would  not  permit  her.  But,  when  she  offered, 
the  clown  carelessly  stretched  out  his  feet  for  the 
purpose,  and  suffered  her  to  perform  the  office.  Xan- 
thus  next  ordered  Him  a goblet  of  wine,  which  he 
readily  drank  off.  When  the  meat  was  set  before 
him,  Xanthus  complained  that  it  was  not  enough 
seasoned  ; but  the  clown  said  he  thought  it  was  very 
agreeable.  Whereupon  Xanthus, troubled  because  he 
could  not  discompose  him,  ordered  the  cheesecakes 
to  be  brought,  which  the  stranger  also  disposed  of. 
Upon  this,  Xanthus  blamed  the  baker  for  not  ming- 
ling honey  and  pepper  in  the  cheesecakes.  The  baker 
said  it  was  not  his  fault,  but  that  of  his  mistress. 
Xanthus  then  said,  if  it  was  so,  that  she  should  be 
instantly  burnt  alive,  thinking  the  clown  would  at- 
tempt her  rescue.  But  he,  seeing  no  occasion  for  so 
prodigious  a passion,  desired  Xanthus  to  wait  until 
he  brought  his  wife  also,  that  they  might  both  suffer 
together.  Upon  this  Xanthus  acknowledged  that 
iEsop  had  punctually  fulfilled  his  command,  for 
which  he  would  shortly  grant  him  his  freedom. 

The  next  day  Xanthus  sent  A£sop  to  the  bath,  to 
inform  him  what  company  was  there.  As  he  was 
going  he  met  the  city  praetor ; who  (knowing  him  to 
be  the  servant  of  Xanthus)  asked  him  where  he  was 
going.  A£sop  answered,  “I  do  not  know.”  At 
which  the  praetor  was  offended,  and  ordered  him  to 
prison  for  speaking  so  impertinently.  As  they  were 
taking  him  away,  he  cried  out,  64  Oh,  praetor,  did  I 
not  tell  you  I did  not  know  where  I was  going?  ” 
The  praetor,  pleased  with  the  reply,  dismissed  him ; 
and  A£sop  went  on  his  errand.  Observing  that  many 
stumbled,  both  going  in  and  coming  out  of  the  bath, 
at  a stone  which  lay  at  the  entrance,  and  that  only 


xlii 


Life  of  JEsop. 


one  attempted  to  lay  it  aside,  he  went  home,  and 
told  his  master  there  was  but  one  person  in  the  bath. 
Xanthus  arriving,  and  seeing  a multitude,  asked 
him  the  reason  of  his  false  information.  MEsop  told 
him,  there  was  a great  stone  lay  at  the  entrance, 
over  which  many  stumbled,  but  only  one  removed 
the  obstacle;  so  that  there  was  only  one  man,  the 
rest  being  little  better  than  ciphers. 

Not  long  after,  on  a day  fixed  by  Xanthus  and 
other  philosophers  for  public  rejoicing.  Xanthus 
having  drank  freely,  was  raised  into  a passion,  be- 
ing worsted  in  some  dispute  that  had  arisen  ; which 
MCsop  observing,  said.  “ Master,  Bacchus  is  the 
parent  of  three  evils.  The  first  is  voluptuousness, 
the  second  intemperance,  the  third  calumny  or  re- 
proach ; of  which  you,  being  engaged  in  drink, 
should  beware.”  At  last,  Xanthus  being  intoxicat- 
ed, one  of  the  scholars  asked  him  if  it  was  possible 
to  drink  off  the  sea.  “ Very  easy,”  said  Xanthus,  44 1 
will  engage  to  perform  it  myself.”  Upon  which  they 
laid  a wager;  and  having  exchanged  rings,  depart- 
ed. The  day  following  Xanthus  missed  his  ring,  and 
asked  AEsop  what  was  become  of  it.  44  I know  not,” 
said  he,  44  but  this  I am  confident  of  — we  must  not 
stay  here;  for  yesterday,  when  disguised  with  liquor, 
you  betted  your  whole  fortune  that  you  would  drink 
off  the  ocean  ; and,  to  bind  the  wager,  you  exchang- 
ed your  ring.”  Xanthus  replied,  4‘  What  could  I en- 
gage less?  But  can  you  contrive  how  to  get  rid  of 
it?  ” — 44  To  perform  it,”  said  MEsop,  44  is  impossible  ; 
but  how  to  avoid  it  I will  show  you.  When  you 
meet  again,  be  as  confident  as  ever,  and  order  a 
table  to  be  placed  on  the  shore,  and  persons  prepared 
to  lave  the  ocean  with  cups  ; and,  when  the  multi- 


Life  of  JEsop. 


xliii 


tude  are  assembled,  ask  what  was  the  wager.  The 
r^ply  will  be,  that  you  engaged  to  drink  up  the  sea: 
then  do  you  address  them  thus, — ‘Ye  citizens  of 
Samos,  you  are  not  ignorant  that  many  rivers  dis- 
charge themselves  into  the  sea.  My  agreement  was 
to  drink  up  the  ocean,  and  not  those  streams.  If 
you,  then,  can  obstruct  their  course,  I am  ready  to 
perform  my  engagement.  ” Xanthus,  being  pleased 
with  the  expedient,  when  the  people  assembled,  act- 
ed and  said  as  JEsop  had  instructed  him  ; for  which 
he  was  highly  applauded.  When  the  scholar  fell  at 
his  feet,  and  owned  himself  wrong,  at  the  same  time 
requesting  that  the  w ager  might  be  dissolved  ; which 
Xanthus,  at  the  desire  of  the  Samians,  granted. 

JEsop,  on  his  return  home,  intimated  to  Xanthus 
how  much  he  had  merited  his  freedom,  that  he  had 
bid  him  go  to  the  door;  and,  if  there  were  two  crows 
in  sight,  to  tell  him,  for  it  was  an  auspicious  omen  ; 
but,  if  he  beheld  but  one,  it  would  be  a bad  one. 
JEsop  returned,  and  told  him  he  saw  two  perched 
on  a tree.  But,  when  Xanthus  went  out,  one  of 
them  was  gone.  Upon  which  he  called  JEsop  an  un- 
grateful villain,  observing  that  his  whole  aim  was 
to  make  him  an  object  of  ridicule,  for  which  he 
should  now  be  scourged.  JEsop,  groaning  with  his 
stripes,  addressed  one  who  entered  to  sup  with  his 
master,  in  a sad  accent,  thus:  “You,  that  beheld 
one  crow,  are  rewarded  with  a supper ; and  I,  that 
discovered  two,  am  recompensed  undeservedly.” 
Which  ingenious  address  so  softened  Xanthus,  that, 
he  forbade  the  continuance  of  his  punishment. 

Shortly  after,  Xanthus  designing  to  entertain  the 
philosophers  and  orators,  commanded  JEsop  to  stand 
at  the  gate,  and  admit  none  but  wise  men.  At  the 


xliv 


Life  of  JEsop. 


appointed  time  several  came  to  the  gate,  requesting 
admittance:  but  HSsop  put  this  question  to  them  all 
— “What  stirs  the  dog?'’  At  which  they  were  much 
offended,,  supposing  he  meant  to  give  them  that  ap- 
pellation. At  last  one  came  who  made  this  reply 
to  his  question,  “His  ears  and  his  tail.”  H£sop, 
satisfied  with  the  answer,  admitted  him,  and  con- 
ducted him  to  his  master,  saying  there  was  only  one 
philosopher  had  desired  admittance.  The  day  fob 
lowing,  when  they  met  at  the  schools,  they  reproach- 
ed Xanthus  with  treating  them  contemptuously,  by 
permitting  HCsop  to  stand  at  the  gate  and  salute 
them  with  the  opprobrious  epithet  of  “ dogs.”  Xan- 
thus asked  if  they  were  serious.  They  replied,  they 
were.  Upon  which  HSsop  was  called,  and  asked 
how  he  dared  to  affront  his  friends  ? To  which  he 
replied,  “ Did  you  not  tell  me  that  none  but  philoso- 
phers should  be  admitted?” — “And  what  are 
these?”  said  Xanthus,  “do  they  not  merit  that 
character?”  “By  no  means,”  said  H£sop,  “for, 
when  they  came  to  the  gate  I demanded  of  them  — 
What  stirs  the  dog?  and  but  one  among  them  all 
gave  a proper  answer.”  Upon  this  all  agreed  that 
HCsop  had  acted  strictly  as  his  master  commanded 
him. 

One  day;  when  Xanthus,  accompanied  by  HSsop, 
went  to  visit  the  monuments,  and  to  amuse  himself 
with  the  inscriptions,  AEsop,  seeing  these  letters  on 
one  of  them,  sc.  “ a,  b,  d,  o,  e,  0,  x”  showed  them 
to  Xanthus,  asking  him  their  meaning.  Who.  after 
serious  consideration,  confessed  he  knew  not.  “Mas- 
ter,” said  HCsop,  “ if  by  these  characters  I trace  out 
a treasure,  what  reward  shall  I receive?  ” Xanthus 
answered,  “Thy  freedom,  and  half  the  treasure.” 


Life  of  JEsop. 


xlv 


Then  HEsop,  having  dug  the  earth  four  feet  from  the 
stone,  found  it;  and,  giving  it  to  his  master,  claimed 
his  reward.  “No,”  said  Xanthus,  “not  till  I can 
unravel  the  mystery,  the  knowledge  of  which  will 
be  worth  more  than  the  treasure.”  HEsop  told  him  a 
prudent  man  had  engraven  them,  and  the  sense  was 
this  “ a going,  b paces,  d four,  o digging,  e thou 
shalt  find,  0 a treasure,  x of  gold  ! ” Xanthus  an 
swered,  “ It  will  be  more  to  my  interest  to  keep  thee 
than  to  let  thee  go.”  “Then,”  said  HEsop,  “I  wifi 
prove  that  the  gold  belongs  to  the  king  of  Bizanti 
um.”  How  do  you  prove  it?”  said  his  master. 
“ Thus.”  replied  he,  “ a restore,  b to  the  king,  d Di- 
onysius, o which,  e thou  hast  found,  0 treasure,  x of 
gold.”  Upon  this  Xanthus  requested  AEsop  to  ac- 
cept the  half,  as  a reward  for  his  silence.  ^Esop 
replied,  “ I receive  not  this  as  the  effect  of  your 
bounty,  but  of  his  who  concealed  it ; for  this  is  the 
genuine  sense  of  the  letters  — a taking,  b go  your 
way,  d divide,  o which,  e you  have  found,  0 the 
treasure.”  Xanthus  replied,  “Come,  depart ; the 
moiety  of  the  gold,  and  your  freedom,  shall  be  your 
reward.”  As  they  returned,  Xanthus  (fearing  AEsop 
would  discover  the  affair)  commanded  that  they 
should  take  him  to  prison.  As  they  were  taking  him 
away,  AEsop  exclaimed,  “ Do  the  solemn  promises  of 
philosophers,  and  their  specious  intimation  of  liberty 
end  in  prison  and  fetters  ? ” Upon  which  Xanthus 
ordered  his  release,  observing  that  what  he  had  said 
was  true ; though  he  was  confident,  when  he  had 
got  his  freedom,  he  would  do  all  that  lay  in  his  pow- 
er to  injure  him.  HEsop  answered,  H In  spite  of  all 
artifices,  I shall  obtain  my  liberty.” 


l- 

ie 

r. 


xlvi 


Life  of  JEsop. 


Soon  after  this,  on  a day  appointed  for  general 
festivity  by  the  citzens  of  Samos,  an  eagle  descend- 
ed, snatched  up  the  public  ring,  and  afterwards 
dropped  it  into  the  lap  of  a slave.  The  astonished 
Samians  applied  to  Xanthus  to  unfold  the  mystery  ; 
who,  knowing  himself  incapable,  was  very  much  de- 
jected. JEsop,  perceiving  this,  asked  what  made 
him  so  unhappy.  “To-morrow,  when  you  appear 
in  public,”  says  he,  “tell  the  Samians,  that  you  are 
not  dexterous  in  these  matters,  but  you  have  a ser- 
vant that  is.”  To  this  Xanthus  agreed,  and  accord- 
ingly the  next  day  JEsop  was  called  forth.  But, 
when  they  saw  him,  they  smiled,  asking  contempt- 
uously, “ How  can  such  a deformed  creature  unfold 
this  great  mystery?”  JEsop,  waving  his  hand,  re- 
plied, “Ye  citizens  of  Samos,  you  should  not  only 
view  the  front  of  the  house,  but  the  tenant  also;  for 
frequently  an  upright  and  understanding  soul  dwells 
in  a deformed  and  disordered  body;  and  you  know 
it  is  not  the  shape  of  the  cask  that  men  admire,  but 
the  wine  concealed  therein.”  Hearing  this,  they 
desired  him  to  proceed:  wherefore  he  continued,  “Ye 
Samians,  it  rests  with  you  to  judge  between  the 
master  and  the  servant.  If  I do  not  unfold  the  mys- 
tery concealed  in  this  signal  accident,  let  stripes  be 
my  reward;  but,  if  the  master  be  outvied  by  the  dis- 
covery, then  let  my  freedom  be  given  me.”  Upon 
this  they  insisted  that  Xanthus  should  give  JEsop 
his  freedom.  Xanthus  making  no  reply,  the  city 
praetor  addressed  him  thus: — “If  you  do  not  grant 
the  request  of  the  people,  I will  declare  JEsop  free.” 
Whereupon  Xanthus  declared  JEsop  free  and  the 
city  crier  proclaimed  it.  Then  said  JEsop  to  his  mas- 
ter, “In  spite  of  your  malice,  I have  obtained  my 


Life  of  JEsop . 


xlvii 


freedom.”  And  then,  addressing  the  people,  he  thus 
unfolded  the  mystery:  “Ye  citizens  of  Samos  ! the 

eagle,  you  know,  is  the  monarch  of  birds  ; and,  as 
the  public  ring  was  dropped  into  the  lap  of  a slave, 
it  seems  to  forebode  that  some  of  the  adjacent  kings 
will  attempt  to  overthrow  your  established  laws, 
and  entomb  your  liberty  in  slavery.” 

This  filled  the  Samians  with  grief.  Shortly  after, 
letters  arrived  from  Croesus  of  Lydia,  requiring  the 
Samians  to  pay  tribute,  or  else  prepare  to  suffer  the 
calamities  of  a destructive  war. 

Upon  which  a public  council  was  called,  and  ^5Csop 
was  requested  to  give  his  advice;  who  thus  address- 
ed them  . “ We  have,”  said  have,  “ but  two  objects 

before  us.  The  one  is  liberty;  which  in  the  begin- 
ning is  rough  and  difficult,  but  in  the  end  is  smooth 
and  easy;  and  the  other  is  bondage;  whose  begin- 
ning is  easy,  but  the  conclusion  fatal  and  calami- 
tous.” The  Samians,  when  they  heard  this,  declard, 
that,  as  they  were  at  present  free,  so  they  and  their 
liberty  would  stand  or  fall  together  ; — and  with  this 
resolute  reply  dismissed  the  ambassadors.  Croesus 
being  informed  of  their  resolution,  determined  to  go 
to  war  with  them.  But  the  ambassadors  advised  him 
first  to  send  for  JEsop,  with  the  promise  that  the  trib- 
ute should  be  suspended,  and  then  perhaps  he  might 
reduce  them;  but  that,  as  long  as  they  were  strength- 
ened with  the  counsels  of  iEsop,  he  wrould  not  be 
able.  Croesus  took  their  advice,  and  sent  for  him  on 
those  conditions.  The  Samians,  being  well  satisfied, 
agreed  to  give  him  up.  But,  when  iEsop  heard  of 
it,  he  thus  addressed  them  : “Ye  citizens  of  Samos, 
I am  ready  to  prostrate  myself  at  the  feet  of  Croesus, 
but  first  I will  tell  you  a tale.  The  wolves  commenc- 


xlviii 


Life  of  JEsop. 


ed  war  with  the  sheep,  but  the  sheep  were  secured 
by  the  generous  protection  of  the  dogs  ; on  which 
the  wolves  sent  ambassadors  to  the  sheep,  to  this 
end,  that,  if  they  desired  peace,  they  should  give  up 
their  dogs.  The  timorous  and  unwary  sheep  agreed 
to  it,  and  sent  away  their  protectors.  The  wolves 
immediately  destroyed  their  dogs,  and  then  the 
sheep  fell  an  easy  prey.”  The  Samians,  comprehend- 
ing his  meaning,  refused  to  let  JEsop  go,  but  he  re- 
solved to  accompany  the  ambassadors. 

When  they  arrived  at  Lydia,  they  presented  JEsop. 
As  soon  as  the  king  saw  him  he  was  angry;  despising 
the  idea  that  so  despicable  a person  should  by  his 
counsels  prevent  him  from  conquering  the  Samians. 
.JEsop,  observing  his  astonishment,  said,  “ Mighty 
sir!  since  neither  by  force  nor  necessity,  but  of  my 
own  free  will,  I give  myself  up,  I request  your  atten- 
tion. A certain  man,  having  gathered  many  lo- 
custs, killed  them ; and  having  with  them  taken  a 
grasshopper,  she  thus  bespoke  him  : * Sir,  do  not  kill 
me,  for  I am  no  ways  destructive,  my  whole  employ- 
ment being  to  charm  to  sleep  the  weary  traveller.’ 
Upon  which  he  let  her  go.  Thus  I,  O king,  pros- 
trate before  you,  desire  my  life  may  be  the  monu- 
ment of  your  mercy,  since  it  cannot  be  prejudicial 
to  any  man  ; for  in  this  deformed  body  you  shall 
find  an  exalted  mind.”  Croesus  replied,  “JEsop, 
not  only  thy  life,  but  a fortune,  shall  be  the  proof  of 
my  beneficence.  Demand,  therefore,  what  you 
please,  and  it  shall  be  granted.”  “Oh  king,”  said 
JEsop,  “ be  reconciled  to  the  Samians.”  The  king 
replied,  “I  am.”  And  shortly  after  sent  JEsop  back 
with  letters  of  reconciliation.  On  his  arrival,  the 


Life  of  JEsop. 


xlix 


citizens,  crowned  with  garlands,  saluted  him,  rejoic- 
ing to  find  that  peace  was  re-established. 

He  not  long  after  departed  from  Samos ; and, 
after  passing  through  many  kingdoms,  and  disput- 
ing with  several  philosophers,  at  last  arrived  at 
Babylon ; where  he  soon  gained  the  esteem  of 
King  Lycerus.  In  those  days  it  was  usual  for 
nations  to  send  philosophical  questions  to  each 
other,  subject  to  a fine  if  they  could  not  resolve 
them.  Now  JEsop,  unfolding  those  sent  to  King 
Lycerus,  improved  the  reputation  of  the  king.  He 
also,  in  the  king’s  name,  proposed  many;  which  the 
neighboring  kings  were  not  able  to  resolve. 

JEsop,  being  childless,  had  adopted  a nobleman 
named  Eunus  for  his  heir,  and  sought  the  favor  of 
the  king  in  his  behalf.  But  one  day,  surprising  him 
with  his  concubine,  he  discarded  him.  In  revenge 
for  which,  Eunus  forged -letters  from  JEsop  to  the 
philosophers  of  another  kingdom,  and  presented 
them  to  King  Lycerus;  in  which  it  appeared  that 
JEsop  wished  to  render  them  services  in  preference 
to  the  king. 

The  king,  believing  the  imposture,  without  exam- 
ining into  the  truth  of  it,  ordered  Hermippus  to  put 
JEsop  to  death.  But  he,  being  in  friendship  with 
JEsop,  concealed  him  in  a sepulchre.  The  king  gave 
JEsop’s  estates  to  Eunus. 

Not  long  after  this,  Nectenabo,  king  of  Egypt, 
hearing  JEsop  was  dead,  sent  a letter  to  Lycerus,  re- 
quiring artificers  who  could  erect  a tower  which 
should  neither  touch  heaven  nor  earth,  and  one  that 
could  resolve  all  that  was  demanded  ; on  the  accom- 
plishmnnt  of  which  he  would  pay  him  tribute  ; but, 
in  case  of  failure,  he  would  exact  it  of  him.  After 


1 


Life  of  JEsop. 


the  king  had  read  the  letter  he  cried  out,  “ ASsop, 
the  pillar  of  my  kingdom,  is  dead  ! ” Now  Hermip- 
pus,  hearing  the  king  deplore  his  loss,  informed  him 
he  had  not  performed  his  command,  but  had  pre- 
served the  life  of  AEsop ; well  knowing  that  the  king 
himself  would  in  the  end  be  grieved. 

At  which  the  king  rejoiced,  and  sent  for  iEsop ; 
who,  after  having  established  his  innocence,  was 
again  received  into  favor,  and  Eunus  was  condemn- 
ed to  die  ; but,  on  the  intercession  of  ACsop,  his  life 
was  spared.  Now,  as  soon  as  the  King  of  Egypt’s 
letter  was  shown  to  AEsop,  he  desired  that  this  mes- 
sage might  be  returned  — “that,  after  winter  was 
expired,  one  should  appear  who  would  not  only 
erect  the  tower,  but  answer  every  question  demand- 
ed.” Which  was  immediately  dispatched.  AEsop, 
having  readopted  Eunus,  admonished  him  to  this 
effect : “ My  son,  worship  God,  and  honor  the  king; 

make  thyself  a terror  to  thine  enemies,  and  useful 
to  thy  friends.  Pray  that  thine  enemies  may  be  indi- 
gent, that  they  may  not  offend  thee;  and  thy  friends 
opulent,  that  they  may  be  able  to  assist  thee.  Be 
constant  to  thy  consort,  lest  thy  inconstancy  should 
make  her  so.  Be  slow  to  speak  and  swift  to  hear. 
Envy  not  those  who  do  well.  So  manage  thy  domes- 
tic affairs  that  those  who  fear  may  love.  Be  not 
ashamed  to  learn.  Trust  not  thy  secrets  to  a woman, 
lest  she  should  be  insolent.  Let  to-day’s  stock  be 
the  pledge  of  to-morrow’s  store.  Be  gentle  to  all. 
Discard  parasites  and  whisperers.  Always  act  as 
thou  mayest  have  no  cause  to  repent.”  These  say- 
ings had  such  an  effect  upon  Eunus,  that  he  shortly 
after  died  with  remorse  and  compunction. 


Life  of  JEsop. 


li 


The  winter  being  nearly  expired,  iEsop  procured 
four  young  eagles ; which  he  taught  to  carry  bask- 
ets with  little  children  in  them,  and  to  obey  their 
command  ; and,  having  prepared  for  his  journey  in- 
to Egypt,  in  a short  time  set  off,  taking  the  eagles 
with  him. 

Nectenabo,  being  told  that  .Esop  was  arrived,  ex- 
pressed his  surprise,  having  understood  that  he  was 
dead.  The  next  day  all  his  officers  were  assembled, 
dressed  in  white  robes ; and  the  king  in  his  royal  at- 
tire and  imperial  diadem.  When  seated  on  his 
throne  he  sent  for  Esop,  and  asked  him,  to  what  he 
resembled  him,  and  those  who  surrounded  the 
throne?  Esop  replied,  “You  resemble  the  vernal 
sun,  and  your  attendants  a fruitful  harvest.”  With 
which  answer  the  king  was  greatly  pleased.  The 
day  following  the  king  appeared  in  white,  and  his 
retinue  in  purple  ; when  Esop  was  asked  the  same 
question  : to  which  he  answered,  “You  are  an  em- 
blem of  the  sun,  and  those  that  stand  round  a type 
of  effused  beams.”  Then  Nectenabo  inquired  his 
opinion  of  his  kingdom,  and  whether  he  did  not 
think  it  preferable  to  that  of  Lycerus.  “ Do  not  flat' 
ter  yourself,”  said  Esop,  “though  your  kingdom 
may  shine  like  the  rays  of  the  sun,  yet,  if  put  into 
competition  with  his,  it  would  soon  fade.”  Necten- 
abo,  applauding  his  answer,  asked  where  they  were 
that  could  erect  the  tower.  “ They  are  ready,”  said 
Esop,  “if  you  have  appointed  the  place.”  Upon 
which  the  king  showed  him  a spacious  plain.  Then 
Esop  produced  the  eagles,  with  the  children  in  the 
baskets ; and,  giving  them  their  working  instru- 
ments, commanded  the  eagles  to  fly,  who,  being 
raised  in  the  air,  demanded  the  necessary  materials. 


lii 


Life  of  JEsop. 


Nectenabo,  hearing  their  request,  said  to  JEsop,  “I 
have  no  men  that  can  fly.”  JEsop  replied,  “ How 
then  can  you  think  of  engaging  in  a contest  with 
King  Lycerus,  who  is  stored  with  such  ? ” Necte- 
nabo  acknowledged  himself  subdued. 

Shortly  after  he  sent  for  several  sages  from  Heli- 
opolis, to  ask  JEsop  a variety  of  questions.  One  of 
the  Heliopolitans  at  the  banquet  said  to  JEsop,  “ I 
am  employed  by  one  of  our  deities  to  ask  you  this 
question.”  — “You  discover  your  ignorance,”  said 
JEsop,  “ by  diminishing  the  knowledge  of  one  of 
your  gods.”  A second  put  this  question,  desiring 
JEsop  to  explain  it:  “There  is  a vast  temple,  and  a 
column  supporting  twelve  magnificent  cities,  each 
of  which  is  sustained  with  thirty  rafters,  and  con- 
stantly circulated  by  two  women.”  To  this  JEsop 
answered,  “ The  temple  is  the  world,  the  cities  the 
months,  the  rafters  the  days  of  the  month,  and  the 
day  and  night  are  the  two  women  who  successively 
attend  each  other.” 

The  day  following  Nectenabo  summoned  his 
friends,  and  confessed  that  the  tribute  exacted  by 
Lycerus  was  due  to  the  ingenuity  of  JEsop.  One  of 
them  replied,  “ We  will  try  him  again  with  questions 
that  were  never  heard  of.”  “And  I,”  said  JEsop, 
“will  answer  them.” 

He  then  departed,  and  prepared  a schedule,  where- 
on was  engrossed  — “Nectenabo  confesses  he  is  in- 
debted a thousand  talents  to  Lycerus.”  And  in  the 
morning  presented  it  to  the  king  ; who,  paying  him 
the  money,  observed  that  Lycerus  was  fortunate  to 
have  his  kingdom  supported  by  so  sagacious  a per- 
son. He  then  dismissed  him,  bidding  him  farewell. 


Life  of  JEsop. 


JEsop,  having  digested  the  whole  into  a narrative, 
returned  to  Babylon,  and  presented  it  with  the  tri- 
bute to  Lycerus;  who  was  so  well  pleased,  that  he 
commanded  an  elegant  statue  to  be  erected  to  his 
memory. 

Shortly  after  he  obtained  leave  of  the  king  to  sail 
into  Greece,  upon  condition  that  he  should  return  to 
Babylon.  Having  surveyed  the  different  provinces, 
and  obtained  an  eminent  character,  he  set  off  for 
Delphos,  where  the  temple  of  Apollo  stood.  But 
here  they  paid  but  little  attention  to  his  eloquence  ; 
observing  which,  JEsop  said,  “Ye  citizens  of  Del- 
phos you  justly  resemble  the  wood  that  floats  on  the 
sea ; which  at  a distance  appears  something  worth, 
but  when  it  approaches  we  are  disappointed.  So  I, 
when  at  a great  distance  from  your  city,  did  admire 
you,  but  now  am  led  to  think  you  the  most  useless 
among  men.”  Hearing  this,  they  were  afraid  that 
he  would,  at  his  departure,  speak  disrespectfully  of 
them;  they  therefore  determined  to  ensnare  and  de- 
stroy him.  For  which  end  they  took  a golden  cup 
out  of  the  temple,  and  concealed  it  in  JEsop’s  bag- 
gage ; who,  unsuspecting,  departed  to  Phocide.  The 
Delphians  pursued  him,  and  there  charged  him  with 
sacrilege.  He  denied  the  fact,  but  they  untied  his 
baggage,  found  the  cup,  and  discovered  it  to  the 
city.  JEsop,  now  seeing  through  their  malicious 
stratagem,  desired  they  would  not  deprive  him  of 
his  life.  But  they  first  condemned  him  to  prison, 
and  then  to  death.  JEsop,  unable  to  extricate  him- 
self, deplored  his  fate  in  the  prison.  While  he  was 
complaining,  one  Demas  (a  friend)  asked  him  the 
cause  of  his  violent  sorrow.  JEsop  replied,  “A  wo- 
man, having  lately  buried  her  husband,  wept  daily 


liv 


Life  of  JEsop. 


over  his  grave.  One,  who  was  plowing  not  far  off, 
fell  in  love  with  her;  and,  leaving  his  oxen,  went  to 
the  grave,  and  mourned  with  her.  She  asked  why 
he  wept.  ‘ Because,’  replied  he,  ‘ I have  lately 
buried  an  amiable  wife,  and  find  it  gives  me  ease.’ — 

* Such  is  my  fate,’  said  the  woman.  ‘ Then,’  said  he, 

* as  we  are  united  in  trouble,  why  should  we  not  be 

joined  in  marriage,  since  we  love  each  other  ? ’ 
While  they  were  thus  engaged  some  villain  took 
away  his  oxen  ; upon  which  he  went  home  and  wept 
much.  The  woman  inquired,  why  he  wept  now. 
He  replied,  ‘I  have  just  cause  to  weep.’  So  I,  after 
having  escaped  many  dangers,  have  cause  to  weep 
that  I cannot  extricate  myself  from  this.  The  Del- 
phians  then  came,  and  dragged  him  to  the  verge  of 
a craggy  precipice  ; when  .ZEsop  thus  addressed 
them  : “When  beasts  did  parley,  the  mouse,  being 

intimate  with  the  frog,  invited  her  to  supper  in  the 
storehouse  of  a rich  man,  desiring  her  to  make  her- 
self welcome.  After  this  the  frog  invited  the  mouse; 
and,  that  he  might  not  be  tired  of  swimming,  she 
tied  his  leg  to  hers.  This  done,  they  endeavored  to 
go  across  the  stream ; but,  before  they  were  half 
over,  the  mouse  was  drowned ; and,  when  dying, 
declared  the  frog  was  the  cause,  and  that  some  more 
powerful  than  themselves  would  avenge  his  death. 
The  eagle,  beholding  the  mouse  floating  on  the 
water,  snatched  at  him,  and  with  him  took  the  frog; 
thus  both  fell  a prey  to  the  eagle.  So  I,  who  am 
ready  to  fall  a victim  to  your  injustice,  shall  not 
want  an  avenger ; for  all  Greece  and  Babylon  will 
unite  for  that  purpose.” 

But  all  this  was  of  no  avail ; neither  his  attempt 
to  shelter  himself  in  the  temple.  They  still  contin- 


Life  of  JEsop, 


lv 


ued  dragging  him  to  the  precipice  ; when  he  again 
addressed  them : “ Ye  citizens  of  Delphos,  the  hare, 
being  pursued  by  the  eagle,  retreated  into  the  nest 
of  the  hornet.  The  hornet  implored  the  eagle  to 
hare  pity  on  the  hare.  The  eagle  repulsed  the  hor- 
net, and  destroyed  the  hare.  The  hornet  traced  out 
the  nest  of  the  eagle,  and  demolished  her  eggs.  The 
next  time  the  eagle  built  her  nest  higher ; but  the 
hornet  still  pursued,  and  again  destroyed  them.  The 
third  time  the  eagle  soared,  and  deposited  her  eggs 
between  the  knees  of  Jupiter,  invoking  his  protec- 
tion. The  hornet,  composing  a ball  of  dirt,  dropped 
it  into  Jupiter’s  lap  ; who,  forgetting  the  egg,  shook 
all  off  together.  Being  informed  by  the  hornet  that 
this  was  in  revenge  for  a former  injury,  he  endeav- 
ored to  reconcile  them,  lest  the  progeny  of  his  favor- 
ite bird  should  be  destroyed.  But,  the*  hornet  per- 
sisting, he  respited  the  hatching  of  the  eagles  till  the 
time  when  the  hornets  sally  forth.  And  you,  citi- 
zens of  Delphos,  despise  not  this  deity,  from  whom  I 
have  implored  refuge.” 

Now  AUsop,  perceiving  they  continued  still  deaf  to 
his  entreaties,  sternly,  and  for  the  last  time,  bespoke 
them  thus  : “Ye  cruel  and  obdurate  men,  a certain 

husbandman,  growing  aged,  who  had  never  beheld 
the  city,  desired  his  servants  to  convey  him  thither, 
that  he  might  see  it  before  he  died.  As  he  went  he 
was  overtaken  by  a violent  storm  and  gloomy  dark- 
ness, so  that  the  asses  which  drew  the  carriage  mis- 
took the  way,  and  guided  him  to  a precipice  ; where, 
being  upon  the  verge  of  approaching  ruin,  he  thus 
exclaimed  : ‘ Oh  Jove,  what  injury  have  I committ- 
ed, that  hath  incensed  thee  to  cause  this  misfortune; 
especially  that  I should  owe  my  death  not  to  gener- 


lvi 


Life  of  JEsoj). 


ous  horses,  nor  to  active  mules,  but  to  dull  and  de- 
spicable asses?”  “And  this,”  said  iEsop,  “is  my 
unhappy  fate,  not  by  the  hands  of  persons  of  worth 
and  abilities,  but  by  those  of  the  vilest  and  most 
worthless  of  men.”  This  said,  the  Delphians  threw 
him  from  the  precipice,  and  he  perished. 

Not  long  after,  a destructive  pestilence  having 
raged  among  them,  they  were  told  by  the  oracle, 
that  it  was  the  expiation  of  ASsop’s  unjust  tragedy. 
Wherefore,  in  order  to  avert  the  judgment,  they 
erected  a pompous  monument  over  his  bones. 

But,  when  the  principals  of  Greece  and  the  Sages 
were  informed  of  the  catastrophe,  and  having  ma- 
turely weighed  the  fact,  they  severely  revenged  the 
innocent  effusion  of  iEsop’s  blood. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Lion  and  the  Mouse 

. 

. 

Page. 

- 35 

Wolf  and  the  Lamb 

- 

- 

- 

37 

Wolf  and  the  Crane 

- 

- 

- 

- 39 

Cock  and  the  Jewel  - 

- 

- 

- 

41 

Hare  and  the  Tortoise  - 

- 

- 

- 

- 43 

Dog  and  the  Shadow  - 

- 

- 

- 

45 

Herdsman  and  the  Lost  Bull 

- 

- 

- 

- 47 

Fawn  and  his  Mother 

- 

- 

- 

49 

Ass,  THE  Fox,  AND  THE  LlON 

- 

- 

- 

- 51 

Tortoise  and  the  Eagle 

- 

- 

- 

53 

Fox  and  the  Goat 

- 

- 

- 

55 

Bear  and  the  two  Travellers 

- 

- 

- 

57 

Dog  in  the  Manger 

* 

- 

- 

* 58 

Cat  and  the  Cock 

- 

- 

- 

61 

Lion  in  Love 

- 

- 

- 

- 63 

Frogs  asking  for  a King 

- 

- 

- 

65 

Laborer  and  the  Snake 

- 

- 

- 

- 67 

Horse  and  Groom 

- 

* 

> 

69 

Oxen  and  the  Butchers 

- 

- 

• 

- 71 

Mischievous  Dog 

- 

- 

- 

73 

Sick  Stag 

. 

• 

• 

• 75 

List  of  Illustrations , 


Page. 


Fox  WHO  HAD  LOST  HIS  TAIL 

- 

- 

- 

- 77 

Vain  Jackdaw  - 

- 

- 

- 

79 

Kid  and  the  Wolf 

- 

- 

- 

- 81 

Ox  and  the  Frog 

- 

- 

- 

- 

83 

Fighting  Cocks  and  the  Eagle 

- 

- 

- 85 

Horse  and  his  Rider  (Three  Illustrations)  - 

- 87,  88 

Vine  and  the  Goat 

- 

- 

- 

- 89 

Hawk,  the  Kite,  and  the  Pigeons 

- 

- 

91 

Two  Pots 

- 

- 

« 93 

Thief  and  his  Mother 

- 

- 

95 

Wolf  and  the  Sheep 

- 

- 

97 

Fox  and  the  Crow 

- 

- 

- 

- 99 

Old  Woman  and  the  Wine-jar 

• 

101 

Stag  in  the  Ox-Stall 

- 

- 

- 

- *03 

Eagle  and  the  Arrow 

- 

- 

105 

Lion  and  the  Boar 

'• 

- 

- 

- 107 

One-eyed  Doe  - 

- 

- 

109 

Milkwoman  and  her  Pail 

- 

- 

- 

111,  112 

Wolf  and  the  House-Dog 

- 

• 

113 

Ass  carrying  the  Image  - 

- 

- 

- 

- 115 

Old  Hound 

- 

- 

117 

Wolf  and  the  Shepherds 

- 

- 

- 

- 119 

Ass  and  his  Shadow 

- 

- 

121 

Oak  and  the  Reeds 

- 

- 

- 123 

Fox  and  the  Woodcutter 

- 

- 

125 

Wolf  and  the  Lion 

- 

• 

- 127 

Hares  and  the  Frogs 

- 

- 

129 

Fisherman  and  the  Little  Fish 

- 

- 

- 131 

Camel  and  the  Arab  - 

- 

- 

133 

Cat  and  the  Mice 

- 

- 

- 

- 135 

Dog  and  the  Cook 

- 

. 

- 

137 

List  of  Illustrations . 


The  Lion,  the  Bear,  and  the  Fox 
Sea-Gull  and  the  Kite 
Fox  and  the  Leopard 
Bull  and  the  Goat 
Bald  Knight 
Hare  and  the  Hound  - 
Hen  and  the  Golden  Eggs 
Trees  and  the  Axe 
Bowman  and  Lion 
Woman  and  her  Hen  - 
Fox  and  the  Hedgehog 
Mule  - 

Crow  and  the  Pitcher 

Fox  and  the  Grapes 

Hart  and  the  Vine 

Kid  and  the  Wolf 

Monkey  and  the  Dolphin 

Horse  and  the  Stag 

Thief  and  the  House-Dog 

Fox  and  the  Lion  (Three  Illustrations) 

Boy  Bathing 

Wolf  and  the  Shepherd 

Lark  and  her  Young  Ones 

Ass  and  the  Wolf  ... 

Dog,  the  Cock,  and  the  Fox 

Fox  AND  THE  MASK  - 

Wolf  and  the  Goat 

Lion  and  the  Three  Bulls 

Town  Mouse  and  the  Country  Mouse 

Geese  and  the  Cranes 

Blind  Man  and  the  Whelp 


Page. 

- 139 
141 

- 143 
143 

- 147 
149 

- 151 
153 

- 155 

- 157 

- 159 
161 

- 163 
165 

- 167 
169 

- 171 
173 

- 175 

- 177,178 

- 179 
181, 182 

- 183 
185 

- 187 
189 

- 191 
193 

* 195 
197 

- 199 


List  of  Illustrations « 


The  Wolf  and  the  Horse  - 
Quack  Frog  - 
North  Wind  and  the  Sun 
Trumpeter  taken  Prisoner 
Ass  in  the  Lion’s  Skin 
Man  and  the  Satyr 
Dove  and  the  Crow 
Eagle  and  the  Jackdaw  - 
Eagle  and  the  Fox 
Stag  at  the  Pool  - 
Dogs  and  the  Hides 
Monkey  and  the  Camel 
Lion  and  the  Fox 
Ass  and  his  Driver  - * 

Mother  and  the  Wolf 
Partridge  and  the  Fowler 
Ass  and  the  Charger  (Two  Illustrations) 
Lamb  and  the  Wolf 
Viper  and  the  File 
King’s  Son  and  the  Painted  Lion 
Buffoon  and  the  Countryman 
Mouse,  the  Frog,  and  the  Hawk 


Page. 

201 

- 203 
- 205,208 

- 209  " 
211 

- 213 
215 

- 217 
219 

221,  222 
223 

- 225 
229 

- 231 
233 

- 235 
237 

- ,239 
241 

- 245 
249 

- 253 


THE 


FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  LION  AND  THE  MOUSE. 

A Lion  was  awakened  from  sleep  by  a Mouse  run- 
ning ever  his  face.  Rising  up  in  anger,  he  caught 
him  and  was  about  to  kill  him,  when  the  Mouse 
piteously  entreated,  saying:  “If  you  would  only 
spare  my  life,  I would  be  sure  to  repay  your  kind- 
ness/’ The  Lion  laughed  and  let  him  go.  It 


36 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


happened  shortly  after  this  that  the  Lion  was  caught 
by  some  hunters,  who  bound  him  by  strong  ropes  to 
the  ground.  The  Mouse,  recognizing  his  roar,  came 
up,  and  gnawed  the  rope  with  his  teeth,  and  setting 
him  free,  exclaimed:  “You  ridiculed  the  idea  of  my 
ever  being  able  to  help  you,  not  expecting  to  receive 
from  me  any  repayment  of  your  favor;  but  now  you 
.know  that  it  is  possible  for  even  a Mouse  to  confer 
benefits  on  a Lion.” 


THE  FATHER  AND  HIS  SONS. 

A Father  had  a family  of  sons  who  were  perpetu- 
ally quarrelling  among  themselves.  When  he  failed 
to  heal  their  disputes  by  his  exhortations,  he  deter- 
mined to  give  them  a practical  i u tration  of  the  evils 
of  disunion;  and  for  this  purpose  he  one  day  told 
them  to  bring  him  a bundle  of  sticks.  When  they 
had  done  so,  he  placed  the  faggot  into  the  hands  of 
each  of  them  in  succession,  and  ordered  them  to 
break  it  in  pieces.  They  each  tried  with  all  their 
strength,  and  were  not  able  to  do  it.  He  next  un- 
closed the  faggot,  and  took  the  sticks  separately,  one 
by  one,  and  again  put  them  into  their  hands,  on 
which  they  broke  them  easily.  He  then  addressed 
them  in  these  words:  “My  sons,  if  you  are  of  one 
mind,  and  unite  to  assist  each  other,  you  will  be  as 
this  faggot,  uninjured  by  all  the  attempts  of  your 
enemies;  but  if  you  are  divided  among  yourselves, 
you  will  be  broken  as  easily  as  these  sticks.” 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  LAMB. 

A Wolf  meeting  with  a Lamb  astray  from  the  fold, 
resolved  not  to  lay  violent  hands  on  him,  but  to  find 
some  plea,  which  should  justify  to  the  Lamb  him- 
self his  right  to  eat  him.  He  thus  addressed  him: 
“ Sirrah,  last  year  you  grossly  insulted  me.”  “In- 
deed,” bleated  the  Lamb  in  a mournful  tone  of  voice, 
“ I was  not  then  born.”  Then  said  the  Wolf,  “You 
feed  in  my  pasture.”  “No,  good  sir,”  replied  the 
Lamb,  “I  have  not  yet  tasted  grass.”  Again  said 
the  W olf , “You  drink  of  my  well.  ” “ No,  ” exclaimed 
the  Lamb,  “ I never  yet  drank  water,  for  as  yet  my 
mother’s  milk  is  both  food  and  drink  to  me.”  On 
which  the  Wolf  seized  him,  and  ate  him  up,  say> 


38 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


ing,  “ Well ! I won’t  remain  supperless,  even  though 
you  refute  every  one  of  my  imputations.” 

The  tyrant  will  always  find  a pretext  for  his 
tyranny. 


THE  BAT  AND  THE  WEASELS. 

A Bat  falling  upon  the  ground  was  caught  by  a 
Weasel,  of  whom  he  earnestly  sought  his  life.  The 
Weasel  refused,  saying,  that  he  was  by  nature  the 
enemy  of  all  birds.  The  Bat  assured  him  that  he 
was  not  a bird,  but  a mouse,  and  thus  saved  his  life. 
Shortly  afterwards  the  Bat  again  fell  on  the  ground, 
and  was  caught  by  another  Weasel,  whom  he  like- 
wise entreated  not  to  eat  him.  The  Weasel  said 
that  he  had  a special  hostility  to  mice.  The  Bat 
assured  him  that  he  was  not  a mouse,  but  a bat ; 
and  thus  a second  time  escaped. 

It  is  wise  to  turn  circumstances  to  good  account. 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  GRASSHOPPER. 

An  Ass  having  heard  some  Grasshoppers  chirping, 
was  highly  enchanted;  and,  desiring  to  possess  the 
same  charms  of  melody,  demanded  what  sort  of 
food  they  lived  on,  to  give  them  such  beautiful 
voices.  They  replied.  “The  dew.”  The  Ass  re- 
solved that  he  would  only  live  upon  dew,  and  in  a 
short  time  died  of  hunger. 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  CRANE. 

A Wolf,  having  a bone  stuck  in  his  throat,  hired  a 
Crane,  for  a large  sura,  to  put  her  head  into  his  throat 
and  draw  out  the  bone.  When  the  Crane  had  ex- 
tracted the  bone,  and  demanded  the  promised  pay- 
ment, the  Wolf,  grinning  and  grinding  his  teeth,  ex- 
claimed: “ Why,  you  have  surely  already  a sufficient 
recompense,  in  having  been  permitted  to  draw  out 
your  head  in  safety  from  the  mouth  and  jaws  of  a 
Wolf.” 

In  serving  the  wicked,  expect  no  reward,  and  be 
thankful  if  you  escape  injury  for  your  pains. 


40 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


THE  CHARCOAL-BURNER  AND  THE  FULLER. 
A Charcoal-burner  carried  on  his  trade  in  his  own 
house.  One  day  he  met  a friend, 'a  Fuller,  and  en- 
treated him  to  come  and  live  with  him,  saying,  that 
they  should  be  far  better  neighbors,  and  that  their 
housekeeping  expenses  would  be  lessened.  The 
Fuller  replied:  “ The  arrangement  is  impossible  as  far 
as  I am  concerned,  for  whatever  I should  whiten, 
you  would  immediately  blacken  again  with  your 
charcoal.” 

Like  will  di’aw  like. 

THE  BOY  HUNTING  LOCUSTS. 

A Boy  was  hunting  for  locusts.  He  had  caught  a 
goodly  number,  when  he  saw  a Scorpion,  and,  mis- 
taking him  for  a locust,  reached  out  his  hand  to  take 
him.  The  Scorpion,  showing  his  sting,  said:  “If  you 
had  but  touched  me,  my  friend,  you  would  have  lost 
me,  and  all  your  locusts  too!” 

THE  ANTS  AND  THE  GRASSHOPPER. 

The  Ants  were  employing  a fine  winter’s  day  in 
drying  grain  collected  in  the  summer  time.  A Grass- 
hopper, perishing  with  famine,  passed  by  and  earn- 
estly begged  for  a little  food.  The  Ants  inquired  of 
him,  “Why  did  you  not  treasure  up  food  during  the 
summer?”  He  replied,  “I  had  not  leisure  enough. 
I passed  the  days  in  singing.”  They  then  said  in  deri- 
sion: “ If  you  were  foolish  enough  to  sing  all  the  sum- 
mer, you  must  dance  supperless  to  bed  in  the  winter.” 


THE  COCK  AND  THE  JEWEL. 

A Cock,  scratching  for  food  for  himself  and  his  hens, 
found  a precious  stone;  on  which  he  said:  “If  your 
owner  had  found  thee,  and  not  I,  he  would  have 
taken  thee  up,  and  have  set  thee  in  thy  first  estate; 
but  I have  found  thee  for  no  purpose.  I would  rather 
have  one  barleycorn  than  all  the  jewels  in  the  world.” 


42 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  KINGDOM  OF  THE  LION. 

The  beasts  of  the  field  and  forest  had  a Lion  as  their 
king.  He  was  neither  wrathful,  cruel,  nor  tyran- 
nical, but  just  and  gentle  as  a king  could  be.  He 
made  during  his  reign  a royal  proclamation  for  a 
general  assembly  of  all  the  birds  and  beasts,  and 
drew  up  conditions  for  an  universal  league,  in  which 
the  Wolf  and  the  Lamb,  the  Panther  and  the  Kid, 
the  Tiger  and  the  Stag,  the  Dog  and  the  Hare,  should 
live  together  in  perfect  peace  and  amity.  The  Hare 
said,  “Oh,  how  I have  longed  to  see  this  day,  in 
which  the  weak  shall  take  their  place  with  impunity 
by  the  side  of  the  strong.” 


THE  FISHERMAN  PIPING. 

A Fisherman  skilled  in  music  took  his  flute  and  his 
nets  to  the  sea-shore.  Standing  on  a projecting  rock 
he  played  several  tunes,  in  the  hope  that  the  fish, 
attracted  by  his  melody,  would  of  their  own  accord 
dance  into  his  net,  which  he  had  placed  below.  At 
last,  having  long  waited  in  vain,  he  laid  aside  his 
flute,  and  casting  his  net  into  the  sea,  made  an  ex- 
cellent haul  of  fish.  When  he  saw  them  leaping 
about  in  the  net  upon  the  rock  he  said:  “ O you  most 
perverse  creatures,  when  I piped  you  would  not 
dance,  but  now  that  I have  ceased  you  do  so  merrily.” 


THE  HARE  AND  THE  TORTOISE. 

A Hare  one  day  ridiculed  the  short  feet  and  slow 
pace  of  the  Tortoise.  The  latter,  laughing,  said: 
“Though  you  be  swift  as  the  wind,  I will  beat  you 
in  a race.”  The  Hare,  deeming  her  assertion  to  be 
simply  impossible,  assented  to  the  proposal;  and 
they  agreed  that  the  Fox  should  choose  the  course, 
and  fix  the  goal.  On  the  day  appointed  for  the  race 
they  started  together.  The  Tortoise  never  for  a 
moment  stopped,  but  went  on  with  a slow  but  steady 
pace  straight  to  the  end  of  the  course.  The  Hare, 
trusting  to  his  native  swiftness,  cared  little  about 


44 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


the  race,  and  laying  down  by  the  wayside,  fell  fast 
asleep.  At  last  waking  up,  and  moving  as  fast  as 
» he  could,  he  saw  the  Tortoise  had  reached  the  goal, 
and  was  comfortably  dozing  after  her  fatigue. 


THE  TRAVELER  AND  HIS  DOG. 

A Traveler,  about  to  set  out  on  his  journey,  saw 
his  Dog  standing  at  the  door  stretching  himself.  He 
asked  him  sharply:  “What  do  you  stand  gaping 

there  for?  Everything  is  .ready  but  you;  so  come 
with  me  instantly.”  The  Dog,  wagging  his  tail,  re- 
plied: “O,  master!  I am  quite  ready;  it  is  you  for 

whom  I am  waiting.” 

The  loiterer  often  imputes  delay  to  his  more  active 
friend. 


HERCULES  AND  THE  WAGONER. 

A Carter  was  driving  a wagon  along  a country 
lane,  when  the  wheels  sank  down  deep  into  a rut. 
The  rustic  driver,  stupified  and  aghast,  stood  looking 
at  the  wagon,  and  did  nothing  but  utter  loud  cries 
to  Hercules  to  come  and  help  him.  Hercules,  it  is 
said,  appeared,  and  thus  addressed  him:  “ Put  your 

shoulders  to  the  wheels,  my  man.  Goad  on  your 
bullocks,  and  never  more  pray  to  me  for  help,  until 
you  have  done  your  best  to  help  yourself,  or  depend 
upon  it  you  will  henceforth  pray  in  vain.” 

Self-help  is  the  best  help. 


THE  DOG  AND  THE  SHADOW. 

A Dog,  crossing  a bridge  over  a stream  with  a 
piece  of  flesh  in  his  mouth,  saw  his  own  shadow  in 
the  water,  and  took  it  for  that  of  another  Dog,  with 
a piece  of  meat  double  his  own  in  size.  He  there- 
fore let  go  his  own,  and  fiercely  attacked  the  other 
Dog,  to  get  his  larger  piece  from  him.  He  thus  lost 
both : that  which  he  grasped  at  in  the  water,  because 
it  was  a shadow;  and  his  own,  because  the  stream 
swept  it  away. 


46 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


THE  MOLE  AND  HIS  MOTHER. 

A Mole,  a creature  blind  from  its  birth,  once  said 
to  his  mother:  “ I am  sure  that  I can  see,  mother!  ” 

In  the  desire  to  prove  to  him  his  mistake,  his  mother 
placed  before  him  a few  grains  of  frankincense,  and 
asked,  “What  is  it?”  The  young  Mole  said,  “It  is 
a pebble.”  His  mother  exclaimed:  “My  son,  I am 
afraid  that  you  are  not  only  blind,  but  that  you  have 
lost  your  sense  of  smell.” 


THE  SWALLOW  AND  THE  CROW. 

The  Swallow  and  the  Crow  had  a contention  about 
their  plumage.  The  Crow  put  an  end  to  the  dispute 
by  saying:  “Your  feathers  are  all  very  well  in  the 

spring,  but  mine  protect  me  against  the  winter.” 
Fine  weather  friends  are  not  worth  much. 


THE  FARMER  AND  THE  SNAKE. 

A Farmer  found  in  the  winter  time  a Snake  stiff 
and  frozen  with  cold.  He  had  compassion  on  it, 
and  taking  it  up  placed  it  in  his  bosom.  The  Snake 
on  being  thawed  by  the  warmth  quickly  revived, 
when,  resuming  its  natural  instincts,  he  bit  his  bene- 
factor, inflicting  on  him  a mortal  wound.  The 
Farmer  said  with  his  latest  breath,  “lam  rightly 
served  for  pitying  a scoundrel!  ” 

The  greatest  benefits  will  not  bind  the  ungrateful. 


THE  HERDSMAN  AND  THE  LOST  BULL. 


48 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


who  had  stolen  the  Calf,  he  would  offer  a lamb  in 
sacrifice  to  Hermes,  Pan,  and  the  Guardian  Deities 
of  the  forest.  Not  long  afterwards,  as  he  ascended 
a small  hillock,  he  saw  at  its  foot  a Lion  feeding  on 
the  Calf.  Terrified  at  the  sight,  he  lifted  his  eyes 
and  his  hands  to  heaven,  and  said:  “Just  now  I 

vowed  to  offer  a lamb  to  the  Guardian  Deities  of  the 
forest  if  I could  only  find  out  who  had  robbed  me; 
but  now  that  I have  discovered  the  thief,  I would 
willingly  add  a full-grown  Bull  to  the  Calf  I have 
lost,  if  I may  only  secure  my  own  escape  from  him 
in  safety.” 

THE  FARMER  AND  THE  STORK. 

A Farmer  placed  nets  on  his  newly  sown  plough 
lands,  and  caught  a quantity  of  Cranes,  which  came 
to  pick  up  his  seed.  With  them  he  trapped  a Stork 
also.  The  Stork  having  his  leg  fractured  by  the  net, 
earnestly  besought  the  Farmer  to  spare  his  life. 
“ Pray,  save  me,  Master,”  he  said,  “and  let  me  go 
free  this  once.  My  broken  limb  should  excite  your 
pity.  Besides,  I am  no  Crane,  I am  a Stork,  a bird 
of  excellent  character;  and  see  how  I love  and  slave 
for  my  father  and  mother.  Look  too,  at  my  feath- 
ers, they  are  not  the  least  like  to  those  of  a Crane.” 
The  Farmer  laughed  aloud,  and  said,  “It  may  be 
all  as  you  say;  I only  know  this,  I have  taken  you 
with  these  robbers,  the  Cranes,  and  you  must  die  in 
their  company.” 

Birds  of  a feather  flock  together. 


THE  FAWN  AND  HIS  MOTHER. 


A Young  Fawn  once  said  to  his  mother,  “You  are 
larger  than  a dog,  and  swifter,  and  more  used  to  run- 
ning^ and  you  have  too  your  horns  as  a defence; 
why,  then,  O Mother!  are  you  always  in  such  a ter- 
rible fright  of  the  hounds  ? ” She  smiled,  and  said : 
“I  know  full  well,  my  son,  that  all  you  say  is  true. 
I have  the  advantages  you  mention,  but  yet  when  I 
hear  only  the  bark  of  a single  dog  I feel  ready  to 
faint,  and  fly  away  as  fast  as  I can.” 

No  arguments  will  give  courage  to  the  coward. 


50 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  POMEGRANATE,  APPLE  TREE, 
AND  BRAMBLE. 

The  Pomegranate  and  Apple-tree  disputed  as  to 
which  was  the  most  beautiful.  When  their  strife 
was  at  its  height,  a Bramble  from  the  neighboring 
hedge  lifted  up  its  voice,  and  said  in  a boastful  tone: 
‘ • Pray,  my  dear  friends,  in  my  presence  at  least 
cease  from  such  vain  disputings.” 


THE  MOUNTAIN  IN  LABOR. 

A Mountain  was  once  greatly  agitated.  Loud 
groans  and  noises  were  heard;  and  crowds  of  people 
came  from  all  parts  to  see  wdiat  was  the  matter. 
While  they  were  assembled  in  anxious  expectation 
of  some  terrible  calamity,  out  came  a Mouse. 

Don’t  make  much  ado  about  nothing. 


THE  BEAR  AND  THE  FOX. 

A Bear  boasted  very  much  of  his  philanthropy,  say- 
ing “that  of  all  animals  he  was  the  most  tender  in 
his  regard  for  man,  for  he  had  such  respect  for  him, 
that  he  would  not  even  touch  his  dead  body.”  A 
Fox  hearing  these  words  said  with  a smile  to  the 
Bear,  “Oh!  that  you  would  eat  the  dead  and  not  the 


THE  ASS,  THE  FOX,  AND  THE  LION. 


The  Ass  and  the  Fox  having  entered  into  partner- 
ship together  for  their  mutual  protection,  went  out 
into  the  forest  to  mint.  They  had  not  proceeded  far, 
when  they  met  a Lion.  The  Fox,  seeing  the  immin- 
ency  of  the  danger,  approached  the  Lion,  and  prom- 
ised to  contrive  for  him  the  capture  of  the  Ass,  if  he 
would  pledge  his  word  that  his  own  life  should  not 
be  endangered.  On  his  assuring  him  that  he  would 
not  injure  him,  the  Fox  led  the  Ass  to  a deep  pit,  and 
-contrived  that  he  should  fall  into  it.  The  Lion  see- 
ing that  the  Ass  was  secured,  immediately  clutched 
the  Fox,  and  then  attacked  the  Ass  at  his  leisure. 


UNIVERSITY  Of 

ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 


52 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


THE  FLIES  AND  THE  HONEY-POT. 

A Jar  of  Honey  having  been  upset  in  a house- 
keeper's room,  a number  of  flies  were  attracted  by 
its  sweetness,  and  placing  their  feet  in  it,  ate  it 
greedily.  Their  feet  however  became  so  smeared 
with  the  honey  that  they  could  not  use  their  wings, 
nor  release  themselves,  and  were  suffocated.  Just 
as  they  were  expiring,  they  exclaimed,  “O  foolish 
creatures  that  we  are,  for  the  sake  of  a little  pleasure 
we  have  destroyed  ourselves.” 

Pleasure  bought  with  pains,  hurts. 


THE  MAN  AND  THE  LION. 

A Man  and  a Lion  travelled  together  through  the 
forest.  They  soon  began  to  boast  of  their  respective 
superiority  to  each  other  in  strength  and  prowess. 
As  they  were  disputing,  they  passed  a statue, 
carved  in  stone,  which  represented  “a  Lion  strangled 
by  a Man.”  The  traveller  pointed  to  it  and  said: 
“See  there!  How  strong  we  are,  and  how  we  pre- 
vail over  even  the  king  of  beasts.”  The  Lion  re- 
plied: “This  statue  was  made  by  one  of  you  men. 

If  we  Lions  knew  how  to  erect  statues,  you  would 
see  the  Man  placed  under  the  paw  of  the  Lion.” 

One  story  is  good,  till  another  is  told. 


V 


THE  TORTOISE  AND  THE 
EAGLE. 

A Tortoise,  lazily  basking  in  the 
sun,  complained  to  the  sea-birds  of 
her  hard  fate,  that  no  one  would 
teach  her  to  fly.  An  Eagle  hover- 
ing near,  heard  her  lamentation, 
and  demanded  what  reward  she 
jgL.  would  give  him,  if  he  would 
take  her  aloft,  and  float  her 


54 


THE  FABLES  OF  A2SOP. 


in  the  air.  “I  will  give  you,”  she  said,  “all  the 
riches  of  the  Red  Sea.”  “I  will  teach  you  to  fly 
then,”  said  the  Eagle;  and  taking  her  up  in  his 
talons,  he  carried  her  almost  to  the  clouds, — when 
suddenly  letting  her  go,  she  fell  on  a lofty  mountain, 
and  dashed  her  shell  to  pieces.  The  Tortoise  ex- 
claimed in  the  moment  of  death:  “I  have  deserved 
my  present  fate;  for  what  had  I to  do  with  wings 
and  clouds,  who  can  with  difficulty  move  about  on 
the  earth?” 

If  men  had  all  they  wished,  they  would  be  often 
ruined. 


THE  FARMER  AND  THE  CRANES. 

Some  Cranes  made  their  feeding  grounds  on  some 
plough-lands  newly  sown  with  wheat.  For  a long 
time  the  Farmer,  brandishing  an  empty  sling, 
chased  them  away  by  the  terror  he  inspired;  but 
when  the  birds  found  that  the  sling  was  only  swung 
in  the  air,  they  ceased  to  take  any  notice  of  it,  and 
would  not  move.  The  farmer  on  seeing  this, 
charged  his  sling  with  stones,  and  killed  a great 
number.  They  at  once  forsook  his  plough-lands, 
and  cried  to  each  other,  “It  is  time  for  us  to  be  oft' 
to  Liliput : for  this  man  is  no  longer  content  to  scare 
us,  but  begins  to  show  us  in  earnest  what  he  can 
do.” 

If  words  suffice  not,  blows  must  follow. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  GOAT. 

A Fox  having  fallen  into  a deep  well,  was  detained 
a prisoner  there,  as  he  could  find  no  means  of  es- 
cape. A Goat,  overcome  with  thirst,  came  to  the 
same  well,  and,  seeing  the  Fox,  enquired  if  the  water 
was  good.  The  Fox,  concealing  his  sad  plight  under 
a merry  guise,  indulged  in  a lavish  praise  of  the 
water,  saying  it  was  beyond  measure  excellent,  and 
encouraged  him  to  descend.  The  Goat,  mindful  only 
of  his  thirst,  thoughtlessly  jumped  down,  when  just 
as  he  quenched  his  thirst,  the  Fox  informed  him  of 
the  difficulty  they  were  both  in,  and  suggested  a 
scheme  for  their  common  escape.  “If,”  said  he, 


THE  FABLES  OF  JSSOP. 


“you  will  place  your  fore-feet  upon  the  wall,  and 
bend  your  head,  I will  run  up  your  back  and  escape, 
and  will  help  you  out  afterwards.”  On  the  Goat 
readily  assenting  to  this  second  proposal,  the  Fox 
leapt  upon  his  back,  and  steadying  himself  with  the 
Goat’s  horns,  reached  in  safety  the  mouth  of  the 
well,  when  he  immediately  made  off  as  fast  as  he 
could.  The  Goat  upbraided  him  with  the  breach  of 
his  bargain,  when  he  turned  round  and  cried  out: 
“You  foolish  old  fellow!  If  you  had  as  many  brains 
in  your  head  as  you  have  hairs  in  your  beard,  you 
would  never  have  gone  down  before  you  had  in- 
spected the  way  up,  nor  have  exposed  youi’self  to 
dangers  from  which  you  had  no  means  of  escape.” 
Look  before  you  leap 


THE  LIONESS. 

A Controversy  prevailed  among  the  beasts  of 
the  field,  as  to  which  of  the  animals  deserved  the 
most  credit  for  producing  the  greatest  number  of 
whelps  at  a birth.  They  rushed  clamorously  into 
the  presence  of  the  Lioness,  and  demanded  of  her 
the  settlement  of  the  dispute.  “And  you,”  they 
said,  “how  many  sons  have  you  at  a birth?”  The 
Lioness  laughed  at  them,  and  said:  “ Why!  I have 

only  one;  but  that  one  is  altogether  a thorough-bred 
Lion.” 

The  value  is  in  the  worth,  not  in  the  number. 


THE  BEAR 


AND 

THE  TWO  TRAVELERS. 

Two  men  were  traveling  together, 
when  a bear  suddenly  met  them  on 
their  path.  One  of  them  climbed  up 
quickly  into  a tree,  and  concealed 
himself  in  the  branches.  The  other, 
seeing  that  he  must  he  attacked,  fell 
flat  on  the  ground,  and  when  the 
Bear  came  up  and  felt  him  with 


V 


his  snout,  and  smelt  him  all  over,  he  held  his  breath, 
and  feigned  the  appearance  of  death  as  much  as 
he  could.  The  Bear  soon  left  him,  for  it  is  said  he 
will  not  touch  a dead  body.  When  he  was  quite 


58 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


gone,  the  other  traveler  descended  from  the  tree, 
and  accosting  his  friend,  jocularly  inquired  “what 
it  was  the  Bear  had  wispered  in  his  ear?”  he  replied, 
“He  gave  me  this  advice:  Never  travel  with  a 
friend  who  deserts  you  at  the  approach  of  danger.” 
Misfortune  tests  the  sincerity  of  friends. 


THE  THIRSTY  PIGEON. 

A Pigeon,  oppressed  by  excessive  thirst,  saw  a 
goblet  of  water  painted  on  a sign-board.  Not  sup- 
posing it  to  be  only  a picture,  she  flew  towards  it 
with  a loud  whirr,  and  unwittingly  dashed  against 
the  sign-board  and  jarred  herself  terribly.  Having 
broken  her  wings  by  the  blow,  she  fell  to  the  ground, 
and  was  caught  by  one  of  the  bystanders. 

Zeal  should  not  outrun  discretion. 


THE  OXEN  AND  THE  AXLE-TREES. 

A heavy  wagon  was  being  dragged  along  a country 
lane  by  a team  of  oxen.  The  axle-trees  groaned  and 
creaked  terribly:  when  the  oxen  turning  round,  thus 
addressed  the  wheels.  “Hullo  there!  why  do  you 
make  so  much  noise?  We  bear  all  the  labor,  and 
we,  not  you,  ought  to  cry  out.” 

Those  who  suffer  most  cry  out  the  least. 


THE  DOG  IN  THE  MANGER. 

A Dog  lay  in  a manger,  and  by  his  growling  and 
snapping  prevented  the  oxen  from  eating  the  hay 
which  had  been  placed  for  them.  “What  a selfish 
Dog!”  said  one  of  them  to  his  companions;  “he  can- 
not eat  the  hay  himself,  and  yet  refuses  to  allow 
those  to  eat  who  can.” 


THE  SICK  LION. 

A Lion  being  unable  from  old  age  and  infirmities  to 
provide  himself  with  food  by  force,  resolved  to  do  so 
by  artifice.  He  betook  himself  to  his  den,  and  lying 
down  there,  pretended  to  be  sick,  taking  care  that 


60 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP. 


his  sickness  should  be  publicly  known.  The  beasts 
expressed  their  sorrow,  and  came  one  by  one  to  his 
den  to  visit  him,  when  the  Lion  devoured  them. 
After  many  of  the  beasts  had  thus  disappeared,  the 
Fox  discovered  the  trick,  and  presenting  himself  to 
the  Lion,  stood  on  the  outside  of  die  cave,  at  a re- 
spectful distance,  and  asked  of  him  how  he  did;  to 
whom  he  replied,  “I  am  very  middling,  hut  why  do 
you  stand  without?  pray  enter  within  to  talk  with 
me.”  The  Fox  replied,  “No,  thank  you,  1 notice 
that  there  are  many  prints  of  feet  entering  your 
cave,  but  I see  no  trace  of  any  returning.” 

He  is  wise  who  is  warned  by  the  misfortunes  of 
others. 

Sr 


THE  RAVEN  AND  THE  SWAN. 

A Raven  saw  a Swan,  and  desired  to  secure  for 
himself  a like  beauty  of  plumage.  Supposing  that 
his  splendid  white  color  arose  from  his  washing  in 
the  water  in  which  he  swam,  the  Raven  left  the 
altars  in  the  neighborhood  of  which  he  picked  up  his 
living,  and  took  up  his  abode  in  the  lakes  and  pools. 
But  cleansing  his  feathers  as  .often  as  he  would,  he 
could  not  change  their  color,  while  through  want  of 
food  he  perished. 

Change  of  habit  cannot  alter  nature, 


' 


THE  CAT  AND  THE  COCK. 


A Cat  caught  a Cock,  aiid  took  counsel  with  him- 
self how  he  might  find  a reasonable  excuse  for  eat- 
ing him.  He  accused  him  as  being  a nuisance  to 
men,  by  crowing  in  the  night  time,  and  not  permit- 
ting them  to  sleep.  The  Cock  defended  himself  by 
saying,  that  he  did  this  for  the  benefit  of  men,  that 
they  might  rise  betimes  for  their  labors.  The  Cat 
replied,  “Although  you  abound  in  specious  apolo- 
gies, I shall  not  remain  supperless;”  and  he  made  % 
meal  of  him. 


63 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  BOASTING  TRAVELER. 

A Man  who  had  traveled  in  foreign  lands,  boasted 
very  much,  on  returning  to  his  own  country,  of  the 
many  wonderful  and  heroic  things  he  had  done  in 
the  different  places  he  had  visited.  Among  other 
things,  he  said  that  when  he  was  at  Rhodes  he  had 
leapt  to  such  a distance  that  no  man  of  his  day  could 
leap  anywher§  near  him — and  as  to  that  there  were 
in  Rhodes  many  persons  who  saw  him  do  it,  and 
whom  he  could  call  as  witnesses.  One  of  the  by- 
standers interrupting  him,  said:  “Now,  my  good 

man,  if  this  be  all  true  there  is  no  need  of  witnesses. 
Suppose  this  to  be  Rhodes;  and  now  for  your  leap.” 


THE  WOLF  IN  SHEEP’S  CLOTHING. 

Once  upon  a time  a Wolf  resolved  to  disguise  his 
nature  by  his  habit,  that  so  he  might  get  food  with- 
out stint.  Encased  in  the  skin  of  a sheep,  he  pas- 
tured with  the  flock,  beguiling  the  shepherd  by  his 
artifice.  In  the  evening  he  was  shut  up  by  the 
shepherd  in  the  fold;  the  gate  was  closed,  and  the 
entrance  made  thoroughly  secure.  The  shepherd 
coming  into  the  fold  during  the  night  to  provide 
food  for  the  morrow,  caught  up  the  Wolf,  instead  of 
a sheep,  and  killed  him  with  his  knife  in  the  fold. 

Harm  seek,  harm  find. 


THE  LION  IN  LOVE. 

A Lion  demanded  the  daughter  of  a woodcutter  in 
marriage.  The  Father,  unwilling  to  grant,  and  yet 
afraid  to  refuse  his  request,  hit  upon  this  expedient 
to  rid  himself  of  his  importunities.  He  expressed 
his  willingness  to  accept  him  as  the  suitor  of  his 
daughter  on  one  condition;  that  he  .should  allow  him 
to  extract  his  teeth,  and  cut  off  his  claws,  as  his 
daughter  was  fearfully  afraid  of  both.  The  Lion 
cheerfully  assented  to  the  proposal:  when  however 
he  next  repeated  his  request,  the  woodman,  no  longer 
afraid,  set  upon  him  with  his  club,  and  drove  him 
away  into  the  forest. 


64 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


THE  GOAT  AND  THE  GOATHERD. 

A Goatherd  had  sought  to  bring  back  a stray  goat 
to  his  flock.  He  whistled  and  sounded  his  horn  in 
vain ; the  straggler  paid  no  attention  to  the  summons. 
At  last  the  Goatherd  threw  a stone,  and  breaking  its 
horn,  besought  the  Goat  not  to  tell  his  master.  The 
Goat  replied,  “Why,  you  silly  fellow,  the  horn  will 
speak  though  I be  silent.” 

Do  not  attempt  to  hide  things  which  cannot  be 
hid. 


THE  MISER. 

A Miser  sold  all  that  he  had,  and  bought  a lump  of 
gold,  which  he  took  and  buried  in  a hole  dug  in  the 
ground  by  the  side  of  an  old  wall,  and  went  daily  to 
look  at  it.  One  of  his  workmen,  observing  his  fre- 
covered  the  secret  of  the  hidden  treasure,  and  dis- 
quent  visits  to  the  spot,  watched  his  movements,  dig- 
ging down,  came  to  the  lump  of  gold,  and  stole  it. 
The  Miser,  on  his  next  visit,  found  the  hole  empty, 
and  began  to  tear  his  hair,  and  to  make  loud  lamen- 
tations. A neighbor,  seeing  him  overcome  with 
grief,  and  learning  the  cause,  said,  “Pray  do  not 
grieve  so;  but  go  and  take  a stone,  and  place  it  in  the 
hole,  and  fancy  that  the  gold  is  still  lying  there.  It 
will  do  you  quite  the  same  service;  for  when  the  gold 
was  there,  you  had  it  not,  as  you  did  not  make  the 
slightest  use  of  it.” 


THE  FROGS  ASKING  FOR  A KING. 

The  Frogs,  grieved  at  having  no  established  Ruler, 
sent  ambassadors  to  Jupiter  entreating  for  a King. 
He,  perceiving  their  simplicity,  cast  down  a huge 
log  into  the  lake.  The  Frogs,  terrified  at  the  splash 
occasioned  by  its  fall,  hid  themselves  in  the  depths 
of  the  pool.  But  no  sooner  did  they  see  that  the 
huge  log  continued  motionless,  than  they  swam 
again  to  the  top  of  the  water,  dismissed  their  fears, 
and  came  so  to  despise  it  as  xo  climb  up,  and  to 
squat  upon  it.  After  some  time  they  began  to  think 
themselves  ill-treated  in  the  appointment  of  so  inert 
a Ruler,  and  sent  a second  deputation  to  Jupiter  to 
pray  that  he  would  set  over  them  another  sovereign. 
He  then  gave  them  an  Eel  to  govern  them.  When 
the  Frogs  discovered  his  easy  good  nature,  they  yet 
a third  time  sent  to  Jupiter  to  beg  that  he  would 


66 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


once  more  choose  for  them  another  King.  Jupiter, 
displeased  at  their  complaints,  sent  a Heron,  who 
preyed  upon  the  Frogs  day  by  day,  till  there  were 
none  left  to  croak  upon  the  Lake. 


THE  PORKER,  THE  SHEEP,  AND  THE  GOAT. 

A Young  Pig  was  shut  up  in  a fold-yard  with  a 
Goat  and  a Sheep.  On  one  occasion  the  Shepherd 
laid  hold  of  him,  when  he  grunted,  and  squeaked, 
and  resisted  violently.  The  Sheep  and  the  Goat 
complained  of  his  distressing  cries,  and  said,  “he 
often  handles  us,  and  we  do  not  cry  out.”  To  this 
he  replied,  “Your  handling  and  mine  are  very  dif- 
ferent things.  He  catches  you  only  for  your  wool, 
or  your  milk,  but  he  lays  hold  on  me  for  my  very 
life.” 


THE  BOY  AND  THE  FILBERTS. 

A Boy  put  his  hand  into  a pitcher  full  of  filberts. 
He  grasped  as  many  as  he  could  possibly  hold,  but 
when  he  endeavored  to  pull  out  his  hand,  he  was 
prevented  from  doing  so  by  the  neck  of  the  pitcher. 
Unwilling  to  lose  his  filberts,  and  yet  unable  to 
withdraw  his  hand,  he  burst  into  tears,  and  bitterly 
lamented  his  disappointment.  A bystander  said  to 
him,  “ Be  satisfied  with  half  the  quantity,  and  you 
will  readily  draw  out  your  hand.” 

Do  not  attempt  too  much  at  once. 


THE  LABORER  AND  THE  SNAKE. 

A Snake,  having  made  his  hole  close  to  the  porch 
of  a cottage,  inflicted  a severe  bite  on  the  Cottager’s 
infant  son,  of  which  he  died,  to  the  great  grief  of  his 
parents.  The  father  resolved  to  kill  the  Snake,  and 
the  next  day,  on  its  coming  out  of  its  hole  for  food, 
took  up  his  axe;  but,  making  too  much  haste  to  hit 
him  as  he  wriggled  away,  missed  his  head,  and  cut 
off  only  the  end  of  his  tail.  After  some  time  the 
Cottager,  afraid  lest  the  Snake  should  bite  him  also, 
endeavored  to  make  peace,  and  placed  some  bread 


68 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


and  salt  in  his  hole.  The  Snake,  slightly  hissing, 
said:  “There  can  henceforth  be  no  peace  between 
us;  for  whenever  I see  you  I shall  remember  the  loss 
of  my  tail,  and  whenever  you  see  me  you  will  be 
thinking  of  tne  death  of  your  son.” 

No  one  truly  forgets  injuries  in  the  presence  of  him 
who  caused  the  injury. 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  MULE. 

A Muleteer  set  forth  on  a journey,  driving  before 
him  an  Ass  and  a Mule,  both  well  laden.  The  Ass, 
as  long  as  he  traveled  along  the  plain,  carried  his 
load  with  ease;  but  when  he  began  to  ascend  the 
steep  path  of  the  mountain,  he  felt  his  load  to  be 
more  than  he  could  bear.  He  entreated  his  com- 
panion to  relieve  him  of  a small  portion,  that  he 
might  carry  home  the  rest;  but  the  mule  paid  no 
attention  to  the  request.  The  Ass  shortly  afterwards 
fell  down  dead  under  his  burden.  The  Muleteer,  not 
knoAving  what  else  to  do  in  so  wild  a region,  placed 
upon  the  Mule  the  load  carried  by  the  Ass  in  addi- 
tion to  his  own,  and  at  the  top-  of  all  placed  the  hide 
of  the  Ass,  after  he  had  flayed  him.  The  Mule, 
groaning  beneath  his  heavy  burden,  said  thus  to 
himself:  “I  am  treated  according  to  my  deserts. 

If  I had  only  been  willing  to  assist  the  Ass  a little  in 
his  need,  I should  not  now  be  bearing,  together  with 
his  burden,  himself  as  well.” 


THE  HORSE  AND  GROOM. 

A Groom  used  to  spend  whole  days  in  curry  worth- 
ing and  rubbing  down  his  Horse,  but  at  the  same 
time  stole  his  oats,  and  sold  them  for  his  own  profit. 
“Alas!”  said  the  Horse,  “if  you  really  wish  me  to 
•be  in  good  condition,  you  should  groom  vae  less,  and 
feed  me  more.” 

Honesty  is  the  best  policy. 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  LAD -DOG. 

A Man  had  an  Ass,  and  a Maltese  Lap-dog,  a very 
great  beauty.  The  Ass  was  left  in  a stable,  and  had 
plenty  of  oats  and  hay  to  eat.  just  as  any  other  Ass 


70 


THE  FABLES  OF  A5SOP. 


would.  The  Lap-dog  knew  many  tricks,  and  was  a 
great  favorite  with  his  master,  who  often  fondled 
him,  and  seldom  went  out  to  dine  or  to  sup  without 
bringing  him  home  some  tit-bit  to  eat,  when  he 
frisked  and  jumped  about  him  in  a manner  pleasant 
to  see.  The  Ass,  on  the  contrary,  had  much  work 
to  do,  in  grinding  the  corn-mill,  and  in  carrying  wood 
from  the  forest  or  burdens  from  the  farm.  He  often 
lamented  his  own  hard  fate,  and  contrasted  it  with 
the  luxury  and  idleness  of  the  Lap-dog,  till  at  last 
one  day  he  broke  his  cords  and  halter,  and  galloped 
into  his  master’s  house,  kicking  up  his  heels  without 
measure,  and  frisking  and  fawning  as  well  as  he 
could.  He  next  tried  to  jump  about  his  master  as 
he  had  seen  the  Lap-dog  do,  but  he  broke  the  table 
and  smashed  all  the  dishes  upon  it  to  atoms.  He 
then  attempted  to  lick  his  master,  and  jumped  upon 
his  back.  The  servants  hearing  the  strange  hubbub, 
and  perceiving  the  danger  of  their  master,  quickly 
relieved  him,  and  drove  out  the  Ass  to  his  stable, 
with  kicks,  and  clubs,  and  cuffs.  The  Ass,  as  he 
returned  to  his  stall  beaten  nearly  to  death,  thus 
lamented:  “ I have  brought  it  all  on  myself  ! Why 

could  I not  have  been  contented  to  labor  with  my 
companions,  and  not  wish  to  be  idle  all  the  day  like 
that  useless  little  Lap-dog!  ” 


THE  OXEN  AND  THE  BUTCHERS. 

The  Oxen  once  on  a time  sought  to  destroy  the 
Butchers,  who  practiced  a trade  destructive  to  their 
race.  They  assembled  on  a certain  day  to  carry  out 
their  purpose,  and  sharpened  their  horns  for  the  con- 
test. One  of  them,  an  exceedingly  old  one  (for 
many  a field  had  he  ploughed),  thus  spoke:  “These 
Butchers,  it  is  true,  slaughter  us,  but  they  do  so  with 
skilful  hands,  and  with  no  unnecessary  pain.  If  we 
get  rid  of  them,  we  shall  fall  into  the  hands  of  un- 
skilful operators,  and  thus  suffer  a double  death:  for 
you  may  be  assured,  that  though  all  the  Butchers 
should  perish,  yet  will  men  never  want  beef.” 

Do  not  be  in  a hurry  to  change  one  evil  for  another. 


72 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOF. 


THE  LION,  THE  MOUSE,  AND  THE  FOX. 

A Lion,  fatigued  by  the  heat  of  a summer’s  day,  fell 
fast  asleep  in  his  den.  A Mouse  ran  over  his  mane 
and  ears,  and  woke  him  from  his  slumbers.  He  rose 
up  and  shook  himself  in  great  wrath,  and  searched 
every  corner  of  his  den  to  find  the  Mouse.  A Fox 
seeing  him,  said:  “ A fine  Lion  you  are  to  be  fright- 
ened of  a Mouse.”  “’Tis  not  the  Mouse  I fear,”  said 
thejfion;  “ I resent  his  familiarity  and  ill-breeding.” 
Little  liberties  are  great  offences. 


THE  SHEPHERD’S  BOY  AND  WOLF. 

A Shepherd-boy,  who  watched  a flock  of  sheep 
near  a village,  brought  out  the  villagers  three  or  four 
times  by  crying  out,  “Wolf!  Wolf!”  and  when  his 
neighbors  came  to  help  him,  laughed  at  them  for 
their  pains.  The  Wolf,  however,  did  truly  come  at 
last.  The  Shepherd-boy,  now  really  alarmed,  shouted 
in  an  agony  of  terror:  “Pray,  do  come  and  help  me; 
the  Wolf  is  killing  the  sheep  j”  but  no  one  paid  any 
heed  to  his  cries,  nor  rendered  any  assistance.  The 
Wolf,  having  no  cause  of  fear,  took  it  easily,  and 
lacerated  or  destroyed  the  whole  flock. 

Thew  is  no  believing  a liar,  even  when  he  speaks 
the  truth. 


THE  MISCHIEVOUS  DOG. 

A Dog  used  to  run  up  quietly  to  the  heels  of  every- 
one he  met,  and  to  bite  them  without  notice.  His 
master  suspended  a bell  about  his  neck,  that  he 
might  give  notice  of  his  presence  "wherever  he  went. 
The  Dog  grew  proud  of  his  bell,  and  "went  tinkling 
it  all  over  the  market-place.  An  old  hound  said  to 
him:  ' Why  do  you  make  such  an  exhibition  of 

yourself?  That  bell  that  you  carry  is  not,  believe 
me,  any  order  of  merit,  but.  on  the  contrary  a mark 
of  disgrace,  a public  notice  to  all  men  to  avoid  you 
as  an  ill-mannered  dog.” 

Notoriety  is  often  mistaken  for  fame. 


74 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


THE  BOYS  AND  THE  FROGS. 

Some  boys,  playing  near  a pond,  saw  a number  of 
Frogs  in  the  water,  and  began  to  pelt  them  with 
stones.  They  killed  several  of  them,  when  one  of 
the  Frogs,  lifting  his  head  out  of  the  water,  cried 
out:  “ Pray  stop,  my  boys:  what  is  sport  to  you,  is 

death  to  us,” 

THE  SALT  MERCHANT  AND  HIS  ASS. 

A Pedlar,  dealing  in  salt,  drove  his  Ass  to  the  sea- 
shore to  buy  salt.  His  road  home  lay  across  a 
stream,  in  passing  which  his  Ass,  making  a false 
step,  fell  by  accident  into  the  water,  and  rose  up 
again  with  his  load  considerably  lighter,  as  the 
water  melted  the  salt.  The  Pedlar  retraced  his 
steps,  and  refilled  his  panniers  with  a larger  quan- 
tity of  salt  than  before.  When  he  came  again  to 
the  stream,  the  Ass  fell  down  on  purpose  in  the  same 
spot,  and,  regaining  his  feet  with  the  weight  of  his 
load  much  diminished,  brayed  triumphantly  as  if  he 
had  obtained  what  he  desired.  The  Pedlar  saw 
through  his  trick,  and  drove  him  for  the  third  time 
to  the  coast,  where  he  bought  a cargo  of  sponges 
instead  of  salt.  The  Ass,  again  playing  the  knave, 
when  he  reached  the  stream,  fell  down  on  purpose, 
when  the  sponges  becoming  swollen  with  the  water, 
his  load  was  very  greatly  increased;  and  thus  his 
trick  recoiled  on  himself  in  fitting  to  his  back  a 
double  burden. 


THE  SICK  STAG. 

A sick  Stag  lay  down  in  a quiet  corner  of  its  pasture- 
ground.  His  companions  came  in  great  numbers  to 
inquire  after  his  health,  and  each  one  helped  himself 
to  a share  of  the  food  which  had  been  placed  for  his 
use;  so  that  he  died,  not  from  his  sickness,  but  from 
the  failure  of  the  means  of  living. 

Evil  companions  bring  more  hurt  than  profit. 


THE  GOATHERD  AND  THE  WILD  GOATS. 

A Goatherd,  driving  his  flock  from  their  pasture  at 
eventide,  found  some  wild  goats  mingled  among 
them,  and  shut  them  up  together  with  his  own  for 


76 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


the  night.  On  the  morrow  it  snowed  very  hard,  so 
that  he  could  not  take  the  herd  to  their  usual  feed- 
ing places,  but  was  obliged  to  keep  them  in  the  fold. 
He  gave  his  own  goats  just  sufficient  food  to  keep 
them  alive,  but  fed  the  strangers  more  abundantly, 
in  the  hope  of  enticing  them  to  stay  with  him,  and 
of  making  them  his  own.  When  the  thaw  set  in,  he 
led  them  all  out  to  feed,  and  the  wild  goats  scam- 
pered away  as  fast  as  they  could  to  the  mountains. 
The  Goatherd  taxed  them  with  their  ingratitude  in 
leaving  him,  when  during  the  storm  he  had  taken 
more  care  of  them  than  of  his  own  herd.  One  of 
them  turning  about  said  to  him,  “ That  is  the  very 
reason  why  we  are  so  cautious;  for  if  you  yesterday 
treated  us  better  than  the  Goats  you  have  had  so 
long,  it  is  plain  also  that  if  others  came  after  us,  you 
would  in  the  same  manner,  prefer  them  to  our- 
selves.” 

Old  friends  cannot  with  impunity  be  sacrificed  for 
new  ones. 

THE  BOY  AND  THE  NETTLES. 

A Boy  was  stung  by  a Nettle.  He  ran  home  and 
told  his  mother,  saying,  “ Although  it  pains  me  so 
much,  I did  but  touch  it  ever  so  gently.”  “That 
was  just  it,”  said  his  mother,  “ which  caused  it  to 
sting  you.  The  next  time  you  touch  a Nettle,  grasp 
it  boldly,  and  it  will  be  soft  as  silk  to  your  hand,  and 
not  in  the  least  hurt  you.” 

Whatever  you  do,  do  with  all  your  might. 


THE  FOX  WHO  HAD  LOST  HIS  TAIL, 

A Fox  caught  in  a trap,  escaped  with  the  loss  of  his 
“ brash.”  Henceforth  feeling  his  life  a burden  from 
the  shame  and  ridicule  to  which  he  was  exposed,  he 
schemed  to  briug  all  the  other  Foxes  into  a like 
condition  with  himself,  that  in  the  common  loss  he 
might  the  better  conceal  his  own  deprivation.  He 
assembled  a good  many  Foxes,  and  publicly  advised 
them  to  cut  off  their  tails,  saying  “that  they  would 
not  only  look  much  better  without  them,  but  that 
they  would  get  rid  of  the  weight  of  the  brush,  which 
was  a very  great  inconvenience.”  One  of  them  in- 
terrupting him  said,  “If  you  had  not  yourself  lost 
your  tail,  my  friend,  you  would  not  thus  counsel  us.” 


78 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  MAN  AND  HIS  TWO  SWEETHEARTS. 

A middle-aged  man,  whose  hair  had  begun  to  turn 
grey,  courted  two  women  at  the  same  time.  One  of 
them  was  young;  and  the  other  well  advanced  in 
years.  The  elder  woman,  ashamed  to  be  courted  by 
a man  younger  than  herself,  made  a point,  whenever 
her  admirer  visited  her,  to  pull  out  some  portion  of 
his  black  hairs.  The  younger,  on  the  contrary,  not 
wishing  to  become  the  wife  of  an  old  man,  was 
equally  zealous  in  removing  every  grey  hair  she 
could  find.  Thus  it  came  to  pass,  that  between  them 
both  he  very  soon  found  that  he  had  not  a hair  left 
on  his  head. 

Those  who  seek  to  please  everybody  please  no- 
body. 


THE  ASTRONOMER. 

An  Astronomer  used  to  go  out  of  a night  to  ob- 
serve the  stars.  One  evening,  as  he  wandered 
through  the  suburbs  with  his  whole  attention  fixed 
on  the  sky,  he  fell  unawares  into  a deep  well.  Vvlfile 
he  lamented  and  bewailed  his  sores  and  bruises,  and 
cried  loudly  for  help,  a neighbor  ran  to  the  well,  and 
learning  what  had  happened  said:  “Hark  ye,  old 

fellow,  why,  in  striving  to  pry  into  what  is  in  heaven, 
do  you  not  manage  to  see  what  is  on  earth?” 


THE  VAIN  JACKDAW. 

* 

Jupiter  determined,  it  is  said,  to  create  a sovereign 
over  the  birds;  and  made  proclamation  that,  on  a 
certain  day,  they  should  all  present  themselves  be- 
fore him,  when  he  would  himself  choose  the  most 
beautiful  among  them  to  be  king.  The  Jackdaw, 
knowing  his  own  ugliness,  searched  through  the 
woods  and  fields,  and  collected  the  feathers  which 
had  fallen  from  the  wings  of  his  companions,  and 
stuck  them  in  all  parts  of  his  body,  hoping  thereby 
to  make  himself  the  most  beautiful  of  all.  When 
the  appointed  day  arrived,  and  the  birds  had  as- 
sembled before  Jupiter,  the  Jackdaw  also  made  his 
appearance  in  his  many-feathered  finery.  On  Jupi- 
ter proposing  to  make  him  king,  on  account  of  the 


80 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


beauty  of  his  plumage,  the  birds  indignantly  pro- 
tested, and  each  plucking  from  him  his  Own  feathers, 
the  Jackdaw  was  again  nothing  but  a Jackdaw. 


THE  WOLVES  AND  THE  SHEEP. 

“Why  should  there  always  be  this  internecine  and 
implacable  warfare  between  us?”  said  the  Wolves 
to  the  Sheep.  '“  Those  evil-disposed  Dogs  have  much 
to  answer  for.  T ley  always  bark  whenever  we  ap- 
proach you,  and  > ttack  us  before  we  have  done  any 
harm.  If  you  v mid  only  dismiss  them  from  your 
heels,  there  mig  it  soon  be  treaties  of  peace  and  of 
reconciliation  1 itween  us.”  The  sheep,  poor  silly 
creatures!  wen  easily  beguiled,  and  dismissed  the 
Dogs.  The  V olves  destroyed  the  unguarded  flock 
at  their  own  r ,easure. 


THE  CAT  AND  THE  BIRDS. 

A Cat,  bearing  that  the  Birds  in  a certain  aviary 
were  ailing,  dressed  himself  up  as  a physician,  and, 
taking  with  him  his  cane  and  the  instruments  be- 
coming his  profession,  went  to  the  aviary,  knocked 
at  the  door,  and  inquired  of  the  inmates  how  they 
all  did,  saying  that  if  they  were  ill,  he  would  be 
happy  to  prescribe  for  them  and  cure  them.  They 
replied,  “We  are  all  very  well,  and  shall  continue 
so,  if  you  will  only  be  good  enough  to  go  away,  and 
1 jve  us  as  we  are.” 


THE  KID  AND  THE  WOLF. 

A Kid  standing  on  the  roof  of  a house,  out  of 
harm’s  way,  saw  a Wolf  passing  by:  and  immedi- 
ately began  to  taunt  and  revile  him.  The  Wolf, 
looking  up,  said:  “ Sirrah!  I hear  thee:  yet  it  is  not 


82 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


thou  who  mockest  me,  but  the  roof  on  whi  .h  thou 

art  standing.” 

Time  and  place  often  give  the  advantage  to  the 
weak  over  the  strong. 


THE  FARMER  AND  HIS  SONS. 

A Farmer  being  on  the  point  of  death  wished  to 
ensure  from  his  sons  the  same  attention  to  his  farm 
as  he  had  himself  given  it.  He  called  them  to  his 
bedside,  and  said,  “ My  sons,  there  is  a great  trea- 
sure hid  in  one  of  my  vineyards.”  The  sons  after 
his  death  took  their  spades  and  mattocks,  and  care- 
fully dug  over  every  portion  of  their  land.  They 
found  no  treasure,  but  the  'v  mes  repaid  their  labor 
by  an  extraordinary  and  superabundant  crop. 


THE  HEIFER  AND  THE  OX. 

A Heifer  saw  an  Ox  hard  at  work  harnessed  to  a 
plough,  and  tormented  him  with  reflections  on  his 
unhappy  fate  in  being  compelled  to  labor.  Shortly 
afterwards,  at  the  harvest  home,  the  owner  released 
the  Ox  from  his  yoke,  but  bound  the  Heifer  with 
cords,  and  led  him  away  to  the  altar  to  be  slain  in 
honor  of  the  festival.  The  Ox  saw  what  was  being 
done,  and  said  with  a smile  to  the  Heifer:  “For 

this  you  were  allowed  to  live  in  idleness,  because 
you  were  presently  to  be  sacrificed,” 


THE  OX  AND  THE  FROG. 

An  Ox  drinking  at  a pool,  trod  on  a brood  of  young 
frogs,  and  crushed  one  of  them  to  death.  The 
mother  coming  up,  and  missing  one  of  her  sons,  in- 
quired of  his  brothers  what  had  become  of  him.  “ He 
is  dead,  dear  mother;  for  just  now  a very  huge  beast 
with  four  great  feet  came  to  the  pool,  and  crushed 
him  to  death  with  his  cloven  heel.”  The  Frog,  puf- 
fing herself  out,  inquired,  “if  the  beast  was  as  big 
as  that  in  size.”  “Cease,  mother,  to  puff  yourself 
out,”  said  her  son,  “and  do  not  be  angry;  for  you 
would,  I assure  you,  sooner  burst  than  successfully 
imitate  the  hugeness  of  that  monster.  '* 


84 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


THE  OLD  WOMAN  AND  THE  PHYSICIAN. 

An  old  woman  having  lost  the  use  of  her  eyes,  called 
in  a Physician  to  heal  them,  and  made  this  bargain 
with  him  in  the  presence  of  witnesses:  that  if  he 
should  cure  her  blindness,  he  should  receive  from 
her  a sum  of  money;  but  if  her  infirmity  remained, 
she  should  give  him  nothing.  This  agreement  being 
entered  into,  the  Physician,  time  after  time,  applied 
his  salve  to  her  eyes,  and  on  every  visit  taking 
something  away,  stole  by  little  and  little  all  her 
property : and  when  he  had  got  all  she  had,  he  healed 
her,  and  demanded  the  promised  payment.  The  old 
woman,  when  she  recovered  her  sight  and  saw  none 
of  her  goods  in  her  house,  would  give  him  nothing. 
The  Physician  insisted  on  his  claim,  and,  as  she  still 
refused,  summoned  her  before  the  Archons.  The 
old  woman  standing  up  in  the  Court  thus  spoke: — 
“This  man  here  speaks  the  truth  in  what  he  says; 
for  I did  promise  to  give  him  a sum  of  money,  if  I 
should  recover  my  sight:  but  if  I continued  blind.  I 
was  to  give  him  nothing.  Now  he  declares  ‘that  I 
am  healed.’  I on  the  contrary  affirm  ‘that  I am 
still  blind;’  for  when  I lost  the  use  of  ray  eyes.  I 
saw  in  my  house  various  chattels  and  valuable 
goods:  but  now,  though  he  swears  I am  cured  of  my 
blindness,  I am  not  able  to  see  a single  thing  in  it.” 


THE  FIGHTING  COCKS  AND  THE  EAGLE. 

Two  Game  Cocks  were  fiercely  fighting  for  the 
mastery  of  the  farm-yard.  One  at  last  put  the 
other  to  flight.  The  vanquished  Cock  skulked  away 
and  hid  himself  in  a quiet  corner.  The  conqueror, 
flying  up  to  a high  wall,  flapped  his  wings  and 
crowed  exultingly  with  all  his  might.  An  Eagle 
sailing  through  the  air  pounced  upon  him,  and  car- 
ried him  off  in  his  talons.  The  vanquished  Cock 
immediately  came  out  of  his  corner,  and  rifled  hence- 
forth with  undisputed  mastery. 

Pride  goes  before  destruction. 


86 


THE  FABLES  OF  -®SOP. 


THE  CHARGER  AND  THE  MILLER. 

A Charger,  feeling  the  infirmities  of  age,  betook 
him  to  a mill  instead  of  going  out  to  battle.  But 
when  he  was  compelled  to  grind  instead  of  serving- 
in  the  wars,  he  bewailed  his  change  of  fortune,  and 
called  to  mind  his  former  state,  saying,  “Ah!  Miller, 
I had  indeed  to  go  a campaigning  before,  but  I was 
barbed  from  counter  to  tail,  and  a man  went  along 
to  groom  me;  and  now,  I cannot  tell  what  ailed  me 
to  prefer  the  mill  before  the  battle.”  “Forbear,’ 
said  the  Miller  to  him,  “harping  on  what  was  of 
yore,  for  it  is  the  common  lot  of  mortals  to  sustain 
the  ups  and  downs  of  fortune.” 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  MONKEY. 

A Monkey  once  danced  in  an  assembly  of  the  Beasts 
and  so  pleased  them  all  by  his  performance  that 
they  elected  him  their  King.  A Fox  envying  him 
the  honor,  discovered  a piece  of  meat  lying  in  a 
trap,  and  leading  the  Monkey  to  the  place  where  it 
was,  said,  “that  she  had  found  a store,  but  had  not 
used  it,  but  had  kept  it  for  him  as  treasure  trove  of 
his  kingdom,  and  counselled  him  to  lay  hold  of  it.” 
The  Monkey  approached  carelessly,  and  was  caught 
in  the  trap;  and  on  his  accusing  the  Fox  of  pur 
posely  leading  him  into  the  snare,  she  replied,  “ O 
Monkey,  and  are  you,  with  such  a mind  as  yours, 
going  to  be  King  over  the  Beasts?” 


THE  HORSE  AND  HIS  RIDER. 

A horse  Soldier  took  the  utmost  pains  with  his 
* charger.  As  long  as  the  war  lasted,  he  looked  upon 
him  as  his  fellow-helper  in  all  emergencies,  and  fed 


him  carefully  with  hay  and  corn.  When  the  war 
was  over,  he  only  allowed  him  chaff  to  eat,  and 
made  him  carry  heavy  loads  of  wood,  and  subjected 
him  to  much  slavish  drudgery  and  ill-treatment. 


88 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


War,  however,  being  again  proclaimed,  and  the- 
trumpet  summoning  him  to  his  standard,  the  Sol- 
dier put  on  his  charger  its  military  trappings,  and 
mounted,  being  clad  in  his  heavy  coat  of  mail.  The 


Horse  fell  down  straightway  under  the  weight,  no 
longer  equal  to  the  burden,  and  said  to  his  master, 
“You  must  now  e’en  go  to  the  war  on  foot,  for  you 
have  transformed  me  from  a Horse  into  an  Ass;  and 
how  can  you  expect  that  I can  again  turn  in  a mo- 
ment  from  an  Ass  to  a Horse?” 

THE  BELLY  AND  THE  MEMBERS. 

The  members  of  the  Body  rebelled  against  the  Bells 
and  said,  ‘ ‘ Why  should  we  be  perpetually  engaged 
in  administering  to  your  wants,  while  you  do 
nothing  but  take  your  rest,  and  enjoy  yourself  in 
luxury  and  self-indulgence?  ” The  members  carried 
out  their  resolve,  and  refused  their  assistance  to  the 
Body.  The  whole  body  quickly  became  debilitated, 
and  the  hands,  feet,  mouth,  and  eyes,  when  too  late, 
repented  of  their  folly. 


THE  VINE  AND  THE  GOAT. 

A V ine  was  luxuriant  in  the  time  of  vintage  with 
leaves  and  grapes.  A Goat,  passing  by,  nibbled  its 
young  tendrils  and  its  leaves.  The  Vine  addressed 
him,  and  said:  “Why  do  you  thus  injure  me  with- 
out a cause,  and  crop  my  leaves?  Is  there  no  young 
grass  left?  But  I shall  not  have  to  wait  long  for  my 
just  revenge;  for  if  you  now  should  crop  my  leaves, 
and  cut  me  down  to  my  root,  I shall  provide  the 
wine  to  pour  over  you  when  you  are  led  as  a victim 
to  the  sacrifice.” 


90 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


JUPITER  AND  THE  MONKEY. 

Jupiter  issued  a proclamation  to  all  the  beasts  of 
the  forest,  and  promised  a royal  reward  to  the  one 
whose  offspring  should  be  deemed  the  handsomest. 
The  Monkey  came  with  the  rest,  and  presented,  with 
all  a mother’s  tenderness,  a flat-nosed,  hairless,  ill- 
featured  young  Monkey  as  a candidate  for  the  prom- 
ised reward.  A general  laugh  saluted  her  on  the 
presentation  of  her  son.  She  resolutely  said,  “I 
know  not  whether  Jupiter  will  allot  the  prize  to  my 
son;  but  this  I do  know,  that  he  is  at  least  in  the 
eyes  of  me  his  mother,  the  dearest,  handsomest,  and 
most  beautiful  of  all.” 


THE  WIDOW  AND  HER  LITTLE  MAIDENS, 

A widow  woman,  fond  of  cleaning,  had  two  little 
maidens  to  wait  on  her.  She  was  in  the  habit  of 
waking  them  early  in  the  morning,  at  cockcrow. 
The  maidens  being  aggrieved  by  such  excessive 
labor,  resolved  to  kill  the  cock  who  roused  their  mis- 
tress so  early.  When  they  had  done  this,  they 
found  that  they  had  only  prepared  for  themselves 
greater  troubles,  for  their  mistress,  no  longer  hear- 
ing the  hour  from  the  cock,  woke  them  up  to  their 
work  in  the  middle  of  the  night. 


THE  HAWK,  THE  KITE, 

AND 


THE  PIGEONS. 


The  Pigeons,  terrified  by 
the  appearance  of  a Kite, 
called  upon  the  Hawk  to 
defend  them.  He  at  once 


93 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


consented.  When  they  had  admitted  him  into  the 
cote,  they  found  that  he  made  more  havoc  and  slew 
a larger  number  of  them  in  one  day,  than  the  Kite 
could  pounce  upon  in  a whole  year. 

Avoid  a remedy  that  is  worse  than  the  disease. 


THE  DOLPHINS,  THE  WHALES,  AND  THE 
SPRAT. 

The  Dolphins  and  V/hales  waged  a fierce  warfare 
with  each  other.  When  the  battle  was  at  its  height, 
a Sprat  lifted  its  head  out  of  the  waves,  and  said 
that  he  would  reconcile  their  differences,  if  they 
would  accept  him  as  an  umpire.  One  of  the  Dol- 
phins replied,  “We  would  far  rather  be  destroyed 
in  our  battle  with  each  other,  than  admit  any  inter- 
ference from  you  in  our  affairs.” 


THE  SWALLOW,  THE  SERPENT,  AND  THE 
COURT  OF  JUSTICE. 

A Swallow,  returning  from  abroad,  and  ever  fond 
of  dwelling  with  men,  built  herself  a nest  in  the  wall 
of  a Court  of  Justice,  and  there  hatched  seven  young 
birds.  A Serpent  gliding  past  the  nest,  from  its 
hole  in  the  wall,  ate  up  the  young  unfledged  nest- 
lings. The  Swallow  finding  her  nest  empty,  lament- 
ed greatly,  and  exclaimed:  “Woe  to  me  a stranger! 
that  in  this  place  where  all  others’  rights  are  pro- 
tected, I alone  should  suffer  wrong.” 


THE  TWO  POTS. 

A river  carried  down  in  its  stream  two  Pots,  one 
made  of  earthenware,  and  the  other  of  brass.  The 
Earthen  Pot  said  to  the  Brass  Pot,  “Pray  keep  at  a 
distance,  and  do  not  come  near  me:  for  if  you  touch 
me  ever  so  slightly,  I shall  be  broken  in  pieces;  and 
besides,  I by  no  means  wish  to  come  near  you.” 
Equals  make  the  best  friends. 


THE  SHEPHERD  AND  THE  WOLF. 

A Shepherd  once  found  the  whelp  of  a Wolf,  and 
brought  it  up,  and  after  a while  taught  it  to  steal 
lambs  from  the  neighboring  flocks.  The  Wolf  hav- 
ing shown  himself  an  apt  pupil,  said  to  the  Shep- 
herd, “since  you  have  taught  me  to  steal,  you  must 
keep  a sharp  look-out,  or  you  will  lose  some  of  your 
own  flock.” 


94 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


THE  CRAB  AND  ITS  MOTHER. 

A Crab  said  to  her  son,  “ Why  do  you  walk  so  one- 
sided, my  child?  It  is  far  more  becoming  to  go 
straightforward.”  The  young  Crab  replied:  “Quite 
true,  dear  mother;  and  if  you  will  show  me  the 
straight  way,  I will  promise  to  walk  in  it.”  The 
mother  tried  in  vain,  and  submitted  without  remon- 
strance to  the  reproof  of  her  child. 

Example  is  more  powerful  than  precept. 


THE  FATHER  AND  HIS  TWO  DAUGHTERS. 

A man  had  two  daughters,  the  one  married  to  a 
gardener,  and  the  other  to  a tile-maker.  After  a time 
he  went  to  the  daughter  who  had  married  the  gar- 
dener, and  inquired  how  she  was,  and  how  all  things 
went  with  her.  She  said,  “All  things  are  prosper- 
ing with  me,  and  I have  only  one  wish,  that  there 
may  be  a heavy  fall  of  rain,  in  order  that  the  plants 
maybe  well  watered.”  Not  long  after  he  went  to 
the  daughter  who  had  married  the  tile-maker,  and 
likewise  inquired  of  her  how  she  fared;  she  replied, 
'•  I want  for  nothing,  and  have  only  one  wish,  that 
the  dry  weather  may  continue,  and  the  sun  shine 
hot  and  bright,  so  that  the  bricks  might  be  dried.” 
tie  said  to  her,  “ If  your  sister  wishes  for  rain,  and 
you  for  dry  weather,  with  which  of  the  two  am  I 
to  join  my  wishes?  ” 


THE  THIEF  AND  HIS  MOTHER. 


A Boy  stole  a lesson-book  from  one  of  his  school- 
fellows, and  took  it  home  to  his  mother.  She  not 
only  abstained  from  beating  him,  but  encouraged 
him.  He  next  time  stole  a cloak  and  brought  it  to 
her,  when  she  yet  further  commended  him.  The 
Youth,  advanced  to  man’s  estate,  proceeded  to  steal 
things  of  greater  value.  At  last  he  was  taken  in 
the  very  act,  and,  having  his  hands  bound  behind 
him,  was  led  away  to  the  place  of  public  execution. 
His  mother  followed  in  the  crowd  and  violently  beat 
her  breast  in  sorrow,  whereon  the  young  man  said, 
“ I wish  to  say  something  to  my  mother  in  her  ear.55 
She  came  close  to  him,  when  he  quickly  seized  her 


96 


THE  FABLES  OF  tESOP. 


ear  with  his  teeth  and  bit  it  off.  The  mother  up- 
braided him  as  an  unnatural  child,  whereon  he  re- 
plied, “Ah!  if  you  had  beaten  me,  when  I first  stole 
and  brought  to  you  that  lesson-book,  I should  not 
have  come  to  this,  nor  have  been  thus  led  to  a dis- 
graceful death.” 


THE  OLD  MAN  AND  DEATH. 

An  old  man  was  employed  in  cutting  wood  in  the 
forest,  and,  in  carrying  the  faggots  into  the  city  for 
sale  one  day,  being  very  wearied  with  his  long  jour- 
ney, he  sat  down  by  the  wayside,  and,  throwing 
down  his  load,  besought  “Death”  to  come.  “Death” 
immediately  appeared,  in  answer  to  his  summons, 
and  asked  for  what  reason  he  had  called  him.  The 
old  man  replied,  “That,  lifting  up  the  load,  you 
may  place  it  again  upon  my  shoulders.” 


THE  FIR  TREE  AND  THE  BRAMBLE. 

A Fir  Tree  said  boastingly  to  the  Bramble,  “You 
are  useful  for  nothing  at  all;  while  I am  everywhere 
used  for  roofs  and  houses.”  The  Bramble  made 
answer:  “You  poor  creature,  if  you  would  only 

call  to  mind  the  axes  and  saws  which  are  about  to 
hew  you  down,  you  would  have  reason  to  wish  that 
you  had  grown  up  a Bramble,  not  a Fir  Tree.” 
Better  poverty  without  care,  than  riches  with. 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  SHEEP. 

A Wolf,  sorely  wounded  and  bitten  by  dogs,  lay 
sick  and  maimed  in  his  lair.  Being  in  want  of  food, 
he  called  to  a Sheep,  who  was  passing,  and  asked 
him  to  fetch  some  water  from  a stream  flowing  close 
beside  him.  “ For,”  he  said,  “if  you  will  bring  me 
drink,  I will  find  means  to  provide  myself  with 
meat.”  “Yes,”  said  the  Sheep,  “if  I should  bring 
you  the  draught,  you  would  doubtless  make  me  pro- 
vide the  meat  also.” 

Hypocritical  speeches  are  easily  seen  through. 


98 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


THE  MAN  BITTEN  BY  A DOG. 

¥« 

A Man  who  had  been  bitten  by  a Dog,  went  about 
in  quest  of  some  one  who  might  heal  him.  A friend 
meeting  him,  and  learning  what  he  wanted,  said, 
“ If  you  would  be  cured,  take  a piece  of  bread,  and 
dip  it  in  the  blood  from  your  wound,  and  go  and 
give  it  to  the  Dog  that  bit  you.  ” The  man  who  had 
been  bitten,  laughed  at  this  advice,  and  said,  “Why? 
If  I should  do  so,  it  would  he  as  if  I should  pray 
every  Dog  in  the  town  to  bite  me.” 

Benefits  bestowed  upon  the  evil-disposed,  increase 
their  means  of  injuring  you. 


THE  HUNTSMAN  AND  THE  FISHERMAN. 

A Huntsman,  returning  with  his  dogs  from  the  field, 
fell  in  by  chance  with  a Fisherman,  bringing  home 
a basket  well  ladened  with  fish.  The  Huntsman 
wished  to  have  the  fish;  and  their  owner  experi- 
enced an  equal  longing  for  the  contents  of  the  game- 
bag.  They  quickly  agreed  to  exchange  the  produce 
of  their  day’s  sport.  Each  was  so  well  pleased  with 
his  bargain,  that  they  made  for  some  time  the  same 
exchange  day  after  day.  A neighbor  said  to  them, 
••  If  you  go  on  in  this  way,  you  will  soon  destroy,  by 
frequent  use,  the  pleasure  of  your  exchange,  and 
each  will  again  wish  to  retain  the  fruits  of  his  own 
sport.” 

Abstain  and  enjoy. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  CROW. 


A Crow  having  stolen  a bit  of  flesh, 
perched  in  a tree,  and  held  it  in  her 
beak.  A Fox  seeing  her,  longed  to  pos- 
sess himself  of  the  flesh : and.by  a wily 
.stratagem  succeeded.  “How  hand- 
some is  the  Crow,’5  he  exclaimed,  “in 
the  beauty  of  her  shape  and  in  the 
fairness  of  her  complexion!  Oh,  if  her 
voice  were  only  equal  to  her  beauty, 
she  would  deservedly  be  considered 
the  Queen  of  Birds!55  This  he  said 


100 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


deceitfully;  but  the  Crow,  anxious  to  refute  the  re- 
flection cast  upon  her  voice,  set  up  a loud  caw,  and 
dropped  the  flesh.  The  Fox  quickly  picked  it  up, 
and  thus  addressed  the  crow : ■ * My  good  Crow,  your 
voice  is  right  enough,  but  your  wit  is  wanting.” 


THE  TWO  DOGS. 

A Man  had  two  dogs;  a Hound,  trained  to  assist 
him  in  his  sports,  and  a House-dog,  taught  to  watch 
the  house.  When  he  returned  home  after  a good 
day’s  sport,  he  always  gave  the  House-dog  a large 
share  of  his  spoil.  The  Hound,  feeling  much  ag- 
grieved at  this  reproached  his  companion,  saying, 
“It  is  very  hard  to  have  all  this  labor,  while  you. 
who  do  not  assist  in  the  chase,  luxuriate  on  the  fruits 
of  my  exertions.”  The  House-dog  replied,  “Do  not 
blame  me,  my  friend,  but  find  fault  with  the  mas- 
ter, who  has  not  taught  me  to  labor,  but  to  depend 
for  subsistence  on  the  labor  of  others.” 

Children  are  not  to  be  blamed  for  the  faults  of 
their  parents. 


THE  OLD  WOMAN  AND  THE  WINE-JAR. 

An  Old  Woman  found  an  empty  jar  which  had  late- 
ly been  full  of  prime  old  wine,  and  which  still  re- 
tained the  fragrant  smell  of  its  former  contents. 
She  greedily  placed  it  several  times  to  her  nose,  and 
drawing  it  backwards  and  forwards  said,  “O  most 
delicious!  How  nice  must  the  Wine  itself  have  been 
when  it  leaves  behind  in  the  very  vessel  which  con- 
tained it  so  sweet  a perfume!” 

The  memory  of  a good  deed  lives,. 


102 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


THE  WIDOW  AND  THE  SHEEP. 

A certain  poor  Widow  had  one  solitary  Sheep. 
shearing  time,  wishing  to  take  his  fleece,  arm  to 
avoid  expense,  she  sheared  him  herself,  but  used  the 
shears  so  unskilfully,  that  with  the  fleece  she  sheared 
the  flesh.  The  Sheep,  writhing  with  pain,  said, 
“Why  do  you  hurt  me  so,  Mistress?  What  weight 
can  my  blood  add  to  the  wool?  If  you  want  my 
flesh,  there  is  the  butcher,  who  will  kill  me  in  a 
trice;  but  if  you  want  my  fleece  and  wool,  there  is 
the  shearer,  who  will  shear  and  not  hurt  me.” 

The  least  outlay  is  not  always  the  greatest  gain. 


THE  WILD  ASS  AND  THE  LION. 

A wild  Ass  and  a Lion  entered  into  an  alliance  that 
they  might  capture  the  beasts  of  the  forest  with  the 
greater  ease.  The  Lion  agreed  to  assist  the  Wild 
Ass  with  his  strength,  while  the  Wild  Ass  gave  the 
Lion  the  benefit  of  his  greater  speed.  When  they 
had  taken  as  many  beasts  as  their  necessities  re- 
quired, the  Lion  undertook  to  distribute  the  prey, 
and  for  this  purpose  divided  it  into  three  shares.  “I 
will  take  the  first  share,”  lie  said,  “because  I am 
King:  and  the  second  share,  as  a partner  with  you 
in  the  chase:  and  the  third  share  (believe  me)  will 
be  a source  of  great  evil  to  you,  unless  you  willingly 
resign  it  to  me,  and  set  off  as  fast  as  you  can.” 
Might  makes  right. 


THE  STAG  IN  THE  OX-STALL. 


A Stag,  hardly  pressed  by  the  hounds,  and  blind 
through  fear  to  the  danger  he  was  running  into,  took 
shelter  in  a farm-yard,  and  hid  himself  in  a shed 
among  the  oxen.  An  Ox  gave  him  this  kindly 
warning:  “O  unhappy  creature!  why  should  you 
thus,  of  your  own  accord,  incur  destruction,  and 
trust  yourself  in  the  house  of  your  enemy?”  The 
Stag  replied:  “Do  you  only  suffer  me,  friend,  to 
stay  where  I am,  and  I will  undertake  to  find  some 
favorable  opportunity  of  effecting  my  escape.”  At 
the  approach  of  the  evening  the  herdsman  came  to 
feed  his  cattle,  but  did  not  see  the  Stag;  and  even 
the  farm-bailiff,  with  several  laborers,  passed  through 
the  shed,  and  failed  to  notice  him.  The  Stag,  con- 


104 


THE  FABLES  OF  tESOP. 


gratulating  himself  on  his  safety,  began  to  express 
his  sincere  thanks  to  the  Oxen  who  had  kindly  af- 
forded him  help  in  the  hour  of  need.  One  of  them 
again  answered  him:  “We  indeed  wish  you  well, 

hut  the  danger  is  not  over.  There  is  one  other  yet 
to  pass  through  the  shed,  who  has  as  it  were  a hun- 
dred eyes,  and,  until  lie  has  come  and  gone,  your 
life  is  still  in  peril.”  At  that  moment  the  master 
himself  entered,  and  having  had  to  complain  that 
his  oxen  had  not  been  properly  fed,  he  went  up  to 
their  racks,  and  cried  out:  “Why  is  there  such  a 

scarcity  of  fodder?  There  is  not  half  enough  straw 
for  them  to  lie  on.  Those  lazy  fellows  have  not  even 
swept  the  cobwebs  away."  While  he  thus  examined 
everything  in  turn,  he  spied  the  tips  of  the  antlers  of 
the  Stag  peeping  out  of  the  straw.  Then  summon- 
ing his  laborers,  he  ordered  that  the  Stag  should  be 
seized,  and  killed. 


THE  PLAYFUL  ASS. 

An  Ass  climbed  up  to  the  roof  of  a building,  and, 
frisking  about  there,  broke  in  the  tiling.  The  owner 
went  up  after  him,  and  quickly  drove  him  down, 
beating  him  severely  with  a thick  wooden  cudgel. 
The  Ass  said,  “ Why,  I saw  the  Monkey  do  this  very 
thing  yesterday,  and  you  all  laughed  heartily,  as  if 
it  afforded  you  very  great  amusement.” 

Those  who  do  not  know  their  right  place  must  be 
taught  it. 


THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  ARROW. 

An  Eagle  sat  on  a lofty  rock,  watching  the  move- 
ments of  a Hare,  whom  he  sought  to  make  his  prey. 
An  archer  who  saw  him  from  a place  of  conceal- 
ment, took  an  accurate  aim,  and  wounded  him  mor- 
tally. The  Eagle  gave  one  look  at  the  arrow  that 
had  entered  his  heart,  and  saw  in  that  single  glance 
that  its  feathers  had  been  furnished  by  himself.  “ It 
is  a double  grief  to  me,”  he  exclaimed,  “that  I 
should  perish  by  an  arrow  feathered  from  my  own 
wings.” 

A consciousness  of  misfortunes  arising  from  a 
man’s  own  misconduct  aggravates  their  bitterness. 


106 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP 


THE  SICK  KITE. 

A Kite,  sick  unto  death,  said  to  his  mother:  “O 

Mother!  do  not  mourn,  but  at  once  invoke  the  gods 
that  my  life  may  be  prolonged.”  She  replied,  “Alas! 
my  son,  which  of  the  gods  do  you  think  will  pity 
you?  Is  there  one  whom  you  have  not  outraged  by 
filching  from  their  very  altars  a part  of  the  sacrifice 
offered  up  to  them?” 

We  must  make  friends  in  prosperity,  if  we  would 
have  their  help  in  adversity. 


THE  LION  AND  THE  DOLPHIN. 

A Lion  roaming  by  the  sea-shore,  saw  a Dolphin 
lift  up  its  head  out  of  the  waves,  and  asked  him  to 
contract  an  alliance  with  him;  saying  that  of  all  the 
animals  they  ought  to  be  the  best  friends,  since  the 
one  was  the  king  of  beasts  on  the  earth,  and  the 
other  was  the  sovereign  ruler  of  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  ocean.  The  Dolphin  gladly  consented  to  this 
request.  Not  long  afterwards  the  Lion  had  a com- 
bat with  a wild  bull,  and  called  on  the  Dolphin  to 
help  him.  The  Dolphin,  though  quite  willing  to  give 
him  assistance,  was  unable  to  do  so,  as  he  could  not 
by  any  means  reach  the  land.  The  Lion  abused  him 
as  a traitor.  The  Dolphin  replied,  “Nay,  my  friend, 
blame  not  me,  but  Nature,  which,  while  giving  me 
the  sovereignty  of  the  sea,  has  quite  denied  me  the 
power  of  living  upon  the  land.” 


THE  LION  AND  THE  BOAR. 

On  a summer  day,  when  the  great  heat  induced  a gen- 
eral thirst,  a Lion  and  a Boar  came  at  the  same  mo- 
ment to  a small  well  to  drink.  They  fiercely  dis- 
puted which  of  them  should  drink  first,  and  were 
soon  engaged  in  the  agonies  of  a mortal  combat.  On 
their  stopping  on  a sudden  to  take  breath  for  the 
fiercer  renewal  of  the  strife,  they  saw  some  Vultures 
waiting  in  the  distance  to  feast  on  the  one  whicf* 
should  fall  first.  They  at  once  made  up  their  quar 
rel,  saying,  “ It  is  better  for  us  to  make  friends,  than 
to  become  the  food  of  Crows  or  Vultures,” 


108 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  MICE  AND  THE  WEASELS. 

The  Weasels  and  the  Mice  waged  a perpetual  war- 
fare with  each  other,  in  which  much  blood  was  shed. 
The  Weasels  were  always  the  victors.  The  Mice 
thought  that  the  cause  of  their  frequent  defeats  was, 
that  they  had  not  leaders  set  apart  from  the  general 
army  to  command  them,  and  that  they  were  exposed 
to  dangers  from  want  of  discipline.  They  chose 
therefore  such  mice  as  were  most  renowned  for  their 
family  descent,  strength,  and  counsel,  as  well  as 
most  noted  for  their  courage  in  the  fight,  that  they 
might  marshal  them  in  battle  array,  and  form  them 
into  troops,  regiments  and  battalions.  When  all 
this  was  done,  and  the  army  disciplined,  and  the 
herald  Mouse  had  duly  proclaimed  war  by  challeng- 
ing the  Weasels,  the  newly  chosen  generals  bound 
their  heads  with  straws,  that  they  might  be  more  con- 
spicuous to  all  their  troops.  Scarcely  had  the  battle 
commenced,  when  a great  rout  overwhelmed  the 
Mice,  who  scampered  off  as  fast  as  they  could  to 
their  holes.  The  generals  not  being  able  to  get  in 
on  account  of  the  ornaments  on  their  heads,  were  all 
captured  and  eaten  by  the  Weasels. 

The  more  honor  the  more  danger. 


THE  ONE-EYED  DOE. 

A Doe,  blind  of  an  eye,  was  accustomed  to  graze  as 
near  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff  as  she  possibly  could,  in 
the  hope  of  securing  her  greater  safety.  She  turned 
her  sound  eye  towards  the  land,  that  she  might  get 
the  earliest  tidings  of  the  approach  of  hunter  or 
hound,  and  her  injured  eye  towards  the  sea,  from 
which  she  entertained  no  anticipation  of  danger. 
Some  boatmen  sailing  by,  saw  her,  and  taking  a 
successful  aim,  mortally  wounded  her.  Yielding  up 
her  breath,  she  gasped  forth  this  lament:  “O 

wretched  creature  that  I am!  to  take  such  precau- 
tion against  the  land,  and  after  all  to  find  this  sea- 
shore, to  which  I had  come  for  safety,  so  much  more 
perilous/’ 


110 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP. 


THE  SHEPHERD  AND  THE  REA. 

A Shepherd,  keeping  watch  over  his  sheep  near  the 
shore,  saw  the  sea  very  calm  and  smooth,  and  longed 
to  make  a voyage  with  a view  to  traffic.  He  sold 
all  his  flock,  and  invested  it  in  a cargo  of  dates  and 
set  sail.  But  a very  great  tempest  coming  on,  and 
the  ship  being  in  danger  of  sinking,  he  threw  all  his 
merchandise  overboard,  and  hardly  escaped  with 
his  life  in  the  empty  ship.  Not  long  afterwards,  on 
some  one  passing  by,  and  observing  the  unruffled 
calm  of  the  sea,  he  interrupted  him  and  said,  “Be- 
like it  is  again  in  want  of  dates,  and  therefore  looks 
quiet.” 


THE  ASS,  THE  COCK,  AND  THE  LION. 

An  Ass  and  a Cock  were  in  a straw-yard  together, 
when  a Lion,  desperate  from  hunger,  approached  the 
spot.  He  was  about  to  spring  upon  the  Ass,  when 
the  Cock  (to  the  sound  of  whose  voice  the  Lion,  it  is 
said,  has  a singular  aversion)  crowed  loudly,  and 
the  Lion  fled  away  as  fast  as  he  could.  The  Ass  ob- 
serving his  trepidation  at  the  mere  crowing  of  a 
Cock,  summoned  courage  to  attack  him,  and  gal- 
loped after  him  for  that  purpose.  He  had  run  no 
long  distance,  when  the  Lion  turning  about,  seized 
him  and  tore  him  to  pieces. 

False  confidence  often  leads  into  danger. 


THE  MILK- WOMAN  AND  HER  PAIL. 


A Farmer’s  daughter  was  carrying  her  pail  of  milk 
LTom  the  field  to  the  farm-house,  when  she  fell 
ii-musing,  “The  money  for  which  this  milk  will  be 
sold,  will  buy  at  least  three  hundred  eggs.  The 
eggs,  allowing  for  all  mishaps,  will  produce  two 
hundred  and  fifty  chickens.  The  chickens  will  be- 
come ready  for  market  when  poultry  will  fetch  the 
highest  price;  soAhat  by  the  end  of  the  year  I shall 
have  money  enough  from  the  perquisites  that  will 
fall  to  my  share,  to  buy  a new  gown.  In  this  dress 
I will  go  to  the  Christmas  junketings,  when  all  the 
young  fellows  will  propose  to  me,  but  I will  toss  my 


112 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


head,  and  refuse  them  every  one.”  At  this  moment 
she  tossed  her  head  in  unison  with  her  thoughts, 
when  down  fell  the  Milk-pail  to  the  ground,  and  all 
her  imaginary  schemes  perished  in  a moment. 


The  Mice  summoned  a council  to  decide  how  they 
might  best  devise  means  for  obtaining  notice  of  the 
approach  of  their  great  enemy  the  Cat.  Among  the 
many  plans  devised,  the  one  that  found  most  favor 
was  the  proposal  to  tie  a bell  to  the  neck  of  the  Cat, 
that  the  Mice  being  warned  by  the  sound  of  the 
tinkling  might  run  away  and  hide  themselves  in 
their  holes  at  his  approach.  But  when  the  Mice 
further  debated  who  among  them  should  thus  “ bell 
the  Cat,”  there  was  no  one  found  to  do  it. 


THE  MICE  IN  COUNCIL. 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  HOUSE-DOG. 


A Wolf,  meeting  with  a big  well-fed  Mastiff,  having 
a wooden  collar  about  his  neck,  inquired  of  him  who 
it  was  that  fed  him  so  well,  and  yet  compelled  him 
to  drag  that  heavy  log  about  -wherever  he  went. 
“The  master,'’  he  replied.  Then  said  the  Wolf: 
“May  no  friend  of  mine  ever  be  in  such  a plight; 
for  the  weight  of  this  chain  is  enough  to  spoil  the 
appetite.” 

THE  RIVERS  AND  THE  SEA. 

The  Rivers  joined  together  to  complain  to  the  Sea, 
saying,  “Why  is  it  that  when  we  flow  into  your 
tides  so  potable  and  sweet,  you  work  in  us  such  a 
change,  and  make  us  salt  and  unfit  to  drink?”  The 
Sea,  perceiving  that  they  intended  to  throw  the 


114 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP, 


blame  on  him,  said,  “ Pray  cease  to  flow  into  me, 
and  then  you  will  not  be  made  briny.” 

Some  find  fault  with  those  things  by  which  they 
are  chiefly  benefited. 

THE  WILD  BOAR  AND  THE  FOX. 

A Wild  Boar  stood  under  a tree,  and  rubbed  his 
tusks  against  the  trunk.  A Fox  passing  by,  asked 
him  why  he  thus  sharpened  his  teeth  when  there 
was  no  danger  threatening  from  either  huntsman 
or  hound.  He  replied,  “I  do  it  advisedly;  for  it 
would  never  do  to  have  to  sharpen  my  weapons 
just  at  the  time  I ought  to  be  using  them.” 

To  be  well  prepared  for  war  is  the  best  guarantee 
of  peace.  

THE  THREE  TRADESMEN. 

A great  city  was  besieged,  and  its  inhabitants  were 
called  together  to  consider  the  best  means  of  pro- 
tecting it  from  the  enemy.  A Bricklayer  present 
earnestly  recommended  bricks,  as  affording  the  best 
materials  for  an  effectual  resistance.  A Carpenter 
with  equal  energy  proposed  timber,  as  providing 
a preferable  method  of  defence.  Upon  which  a 
Currier  stood  up,  and  said,  “ Sirs,  I differ  from  you 
altogether:  there  is  no  material  for  resistance  equal 
to  a covering  of  hides;  and  nothing  so  good  as 
leather.” 

Every  man  for  himself. 


THE  ASS  CARRYING  THE  IMAGE. 

An  Ass  once  carried  through  the  streets  of  the  city 
a famous  wooden  Image,  to  be  placed  in  one  of  its 
Temples.  The  crowd  as  he  passed  along  made  lowly 
prostration  before  the  Image.  The  Ass,  thinking 
that  they  bowed  their  heads  in  token  of  respect  for 
himself,  bristled  up  with  pride  and  gave  himself  airs, 
and  refused  to  move  another  step.  The  driver  see- 
ing him  thus  stop,  laid  his  whip  lustily  about  his 
shoulders,  and  said,  “O  you  perverse  dull -head!  it 
is  not  yet  come  to  this,  that  men  pay  worship  to  an 
Ass.” 

They  are  not  wise  who  take  to  themselves  the 
credit  due  to  others. 


116 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  TWO  TRAVELERS  AND  THE  AXE. 

Two  men  were  journeying  together  in  each  other’s 
company.  One  of  them  picked  up  an  axe  that  lay 
upon  the  path,  and  said,  “I  have  found  an  axe.” 
‘“Nay,  my  friend,”  replied  the  other,  “do  not  say 
‘I,’  but  ‘We’  have  found  an  axe.”  They  had  not 
gone  far  before  they  saw  the^  owner  of  the  axe  pur- 
suing them,  when  he  who  had  picked  up  the  axe 
said,  “We  are  undone.”  “Nay,”  replied  the  other, 
“ keep  to  your  first  mode  of  speech,  my  friend;  what 
you  thought  right  then,  think  right  now.  Say  ‘ I,’ 
not  ‘We’  are  undone.” 

He  who  shares  the  danger  ought  to  share  the  prize. 


THE  OLD  LION. 

A Lion,  worn  out  with  years,  and  powerless  from 
disease,  lay  on  the  ground  at  the  point  of  death.  A 
Boar  rushed  upon  him,  and  avenged  with  a stroke 
of  his  tusks  a long  remembered  injury.  Shortly 
afterwards  the  Bull  with  his  horns  gored  him  as  if 
lie  were  an  enemy.  When  the  Ass  saw  that  the 
huge  beast  could  be  assailed  with  impunity,  he  let 
drive  at  his  forehead  with  his  heels.  The  expiring 
Lion  said,  “ I have  reluctantly  brooked  the  insults 
of  the  brave,  but  to  be  compelled  to  endure  con- 
tumely from  thee,  a disgrace  to  Nature,  is  indeed  to 
die  a double  death.” 


THE  OLD  HOUND. 


A Hound,  who  in  the  days  of  his  youth  and  strength 
had  never  yielded  to  any  beast  of  the  forest,  encoun- 
tered in  his  old  age  a hoar  in  the  chase.  He  seized 
him  boldly  by  the  ear,  but  could  not  retain  his  hold 
because  of  the  decay  of  his  teeth,  so  that  the  boar 
escaped.  His  master,  quickly  coming  up,  was  very 
much  disappointed,  and  fiercely  abused  the  dog.  The 
Hound  looked  up,  and  said,  4 ‘It  was  not  my  fault, 
master;  my  spirit  was  as  good  as  ever,  but  I could 
not  help  mine  infirmities.  I rather  deserve  to  be 
praised  for  what  I have  been,  than  to  be  blamed  tor 
what  I am.” 


118 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


THE  BEE  AND  JUPITER. 

A Bee  from  Mount  Hymettus,  the  queen  of  the 
hive,  ascended  to  Olympus,  to  present  to  Jupiter 
some  honey  fresh  from  her  combs.  Jupiter,  delighted 
with  the  offering  of  honey,  promised  to  give  what- 
ever she  should  ask.  She  therefore  besought  him, 
saying,  “Give  me,  I pray  thee,  a sting,  that  if  any 
mortal  shall  approach  to  take  my  honey,  I may  kill 
him.”  Jupiter  was  much  displeased,  for  he  loved 
much  the  race  of  man  ; but  could  not  refuse  the 
request  on  account  of  his  promise.  He  thus  answered 
the  Bee  : “You  shall  have  your  request ; but  it  will 

be  at  the  peril  of  your  own  life.  For  if  you  use  your 
sting,  it  shall  remain  in  the  wound  you  make,  and 
then  you  will  die  from  the  loss  of  it.  ” 

Evil  wishes,  like  chickens,  come  home  to  roost. 


THE  MASTER  AND  HIS  DOGS. 

A certain  man,  detained  by  a storm  in  his  country 
house,  first  of  all  killed  his  sheep,  and  then  his  goats, 
for  the  maintenance  of  his  household.  The  storm 
still  continuing,  he  was  obliged  to  slaughter  his  yoke 
oxen  for  food.  On  seeing  this,  his  Dogs  took  counsel 
together,  and  said,  “It  is  time  for  us  to  be  off : for 
if  the  master  spare  not  his  oxen,  who  work  for  his 
gain,  how  can  we  expect  him  to  spare  us?” 

He  is  not  to  be  trusted  as  a friend  who  illtreats  his 
own  family. 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  SHEPHERDS. 

A Wolf  passing  by,  saw  some  Shepherds  in  a hut 
eating  for  their  dinner  a haunch  of  mutton. 
Approaching  them,  he  said,  “ What  a clamor  you 
would  raise,  if  I were  to  do  as  you  are  doing ! ” 


THE  SEASIDE  TRAVELERS. 

Some  travelers,  journeying  along  the  sea-shore, 
climbed  to  the  summit  of  a tall  cliff,  and  from  thence 
looking  over  the  sea,  saw  in  the  distance  what  they 
thought  was  a large  ship,  and  waited  in  the  hope  of 
seeing  it  enter  the  harbor.  But  as  the  object  on 
which  they  looked  was  driven  by  the  wind  nearer  to 


120 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


the  shore,  they  found  that  it  could  at  the  most  be  a 
small  boat,  and  not  a ship.  When  however  it  reached 
the  beach,  they  discovered  that  it  was  only  a large 
fagot  of  sticks,  and  one  of  them  said  to  his  com- 
panions, “ We  have  waited  for  no  purpose,  for  after 
all  there  is  nothing  to  see  but  a fagot.” 

Our  mere  anticipations  of  life  outrun  its  realities. 


THE  BRAZIER  AND  HIS  DOG. 

A Brazier  had  a little  Dog,  which  was  a great 
favorite  with  his  master,  and  his  constant  compan- 
ion. While  he  hammered  away  at  his  metals  the 
Dog  slept ; but  when,  on  the  other  hand,  he  went  to 
dinner,  and  began  to  eat,  the  Dog  woke  up,  and 
wagged  his  tail,  as  if  he  would  ask  for  a share  of  his 
meal.  His  master  one  day,  pretending  to  be  angry, 
and  shaking  his  stick  at  him,  said,  “You  wretched 
little  sluggard  ! what  shall  I do  to  you  ? While  I am 
hammering  on  the  anvil,  you  sleep  on  the  mat ; and 
when  I begin  to  eat  after  my  toil,  you  wake  up,  and 
wag  your  tail  for  food.  Do  you  not  know  that  labor 
is  the  source  of  every  blessing,  and.  that  none  but 
those  who  work  are  entitled  to  eat  ? ” 


THE  ASS  AND  HIS  SHADOW. 

A traveler  hired  an  Ass  to  convey  him  to  a dis- 
tant place.  The  day  being  intensely  hot,  and  the 
sun  shining  in  its  strength,  the  traveler  stopped  tc 
rest,  and  sought  shelter  from  the  heat  under  the 
Shadow  of  the  Ass.  As  this  afforded  only  protection 
for  one,  and  as  the  traveler  and  the  owner  of  the 
Ass  both  claimed  it,  a violent  dispute  arose  between 
them  as  to  which  of  them  had  the  right  to  it.  The 
owner  maintained  that  he  had  let  the  Ass  only,  and 
not  his  Shadow.  The  traveler  asserted  that  he  had, 
with  the  hire  of  the  Ass,  hired  his  Shadow  also.  The 


122 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


quarrel  proceeded  from  words  to  blows,  and  while 
the  men  fought  the  Ass  galloped  off. 

In  quarreling  about  the  shadow  we  often  lose  the 
substance. 


THE  ASS  AND  HIS  MASTERS. 

, A.N  Ass  belonging  to  a herb-seller,  who  gave  him  too 
litle  food  and  too  much  work,  made  a petition  to 
Jupiter  that  he  would  release  him  from  his  present 
service  and  provide  him  with  another  master.  Ju- 
piter, after  warning  him  that  he  would  repent  his  re- 
quest, caused  him  to  be  sold  to  a tile-maker.  Short- 
ly afterwards,  finding  that  he  had  heavier  loads  to 
carry,  and  harder  work  in  the  brick-field,  he  peti- 
tioned for  another  change  of  master.  Jupiter,  tel- 
ling him  that  it  should  be  the  last  time  that  he  could 
grant  his  request,  ordained  that  he  should  be  sold 
to  a tanner.  The  Ass,  finding  that  he  had  fallen 
into  worse  hands,  and  noting  his  master’s  occupa- 
tion, said,  groaning:  “It  would  have  been  better 

for  me  to  have  been  either  starved  by  the  one,  or  to 
have  been  overworked  by  the  other  of  my  former 
masters,  than  to  have  been  bought  by  my  present 
owner,  who  will  even  after  I am  dead  tan  my  hide, 
and  make  me  useful  to  him.” 


THE  OAK  AND  THE  REEDS. 

A very  large  Oak  was  uprooted  by  the  wind,  and 
thrown  across  a stream.  It  fell  among  some  Reeds, 
which  it  thus  addressed:  44 1 wonder  how  you,  who 

are  so  light  and  weak,  are  not  entirely  crushed  by 
these  strong  winds.”  They  replied,  44  You  fight  and 
contend  with  the  wind,  and  consequently  you  are 
destroyed;  while  we  on  the  contrary  bend  before  the 
least  breath  of  air,  and  therefore  remain  unbroken, 
and  escape. ” 

Stoop  to  conquer. 


124 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  LION  IN  A FARM-YARD. 

A Lion  entered  a farm-yard.  The  farmer,  wishing 
to  catch  him,  shut  the  gate.  The  Lion,  when  he 
found  that  he  could  not  escape,  flew  upon  the  sheep, 
and  killed  them,  and  then  attacked  the  oxen.  The 
farmer,  beginning  to  be  alarmed  for  his  own  safety,' 
opened  the  gate,  when  the  Lion  got  off  as  fast  as  he 
he  could.  On  his  departure  the  farmer  greviously 
lamented  the  destruction  of  his  sheep  and  oxen; 
when  his  wife,  who  had  been  a spectator  of  all  that 
took  place,  said,  “On  my  word,  you  are  rightly 
served;  for  how  could  you  for  a moment  think  of 
shutting  up  a Lion  along  with  you  in  the  farm-  yard, 
when  you  know  that  you  shake  in  your  shoes  if  you 
only  hear  his  roar  at  ever  so  great  a distance?” 


MERCURY  AND  THE  SCULPTOR. 

Mercury  once  determined  to  learn  in  what  esteem 
he  was  held  among  mortals.  For  this  purpose  he 
assumed  the  character  of  a man,  and  visited  in  this  • 
disguise  a Sculptor’s  studio.  Having  looked  at 
various  statues,  he  demanded  the  price  of  two  fig- 
ures of  Jupiter  and  of  Juno.  When  the  sum  at 
which  they  were  valued  was  named,  he  pointed  to  a 
figure  of  himself,  saying  to  the  Sculptor,  “You  will 
certainly  want  much  more  for  this,  as  it  is  the  sta- 
tue of  the  Messenger  of  the  Gods,  and  the  author  of 
all  your  gain.”  The  Sculptor  replied,  “Well,  if  you 
will  buy  these,  I’ll  fling  you  that  into  the  bargain.” 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  WOOD-CUTTER. 

A Fox  running  before  the  hounds,  came  across  a 
Wood-cutter  felling  an  oak,  and  besought  him  to 
show  him  a safe  hiding-place.  The  Wood-cutter 
advised  him  to  take  shelter  in  his  own  hut.  The  Fox 
crept  in,  and  hid  himself  in  a corner.  The  huntsman 
came  up,  with  his  hounds,  in  a few  minutes,  and 
inquired  of  the  Wood-cutter  if  had  seen  the  fox, 
He  declared  that  he  had  not  seen  him,  and  yet  pointed 
all  the  time  he  was  speaking,  to  the  hut  where  the 
Fox  lay  hid.  The  huntsman  took  no  notice  of  the 
signs,  but,  believing  his  word,  hastened  forward  in 
the  chase.  As  soon  as  they  were  well  away,  the  Fox 
d courted  without  taking  any  notice  of  the  Wood- 
cutter : whereon  he  called  to  him,  and  reproached 
b<m,  saying,  “ Youjimgrateful  fellow,  you  owe  your 


126 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


life  to  me,  and  yet  you  leave  me  without  a word  of 
thanks.”  The  Fox  replied,  “Indeed,  I should  have 
thanked  you  most  fervently,  if  your  deeds  had  been 
as  good  as  your  words,  and  if  your  hands  had  not 
been  traitors  to  your  speech.” 


THE  BIRDCATCHER,  THE  PARTRIDGE,  AND 
THE  COCK. 

A Birdcatcher  was  about  to  sit  down  to  a dinner  of 
herbs,  when  a friend  unexpectedly  came  in.  The 
bird-trap  was  quite  empty,  as  he  had  caught  nothing. 
He  proceeded  to  kill  a pied  Partridge,  which  he  had 
tamed  for  a decoy.  He  entreated  thus  earnestly  for 
his  life:  “What  would  you  do  without  me  when 
next  you  spread  your  nets  ? Who  would  chirp  you 
to  sleep,  or  call  for  you  the  covey  of  answering 
birds  ? ” The  Birdcatcher  spared  his  life,  and  deter- 
mined to  pick  out  a fine  young  Cock  just  attaining 
to  his  comb.  He  thus  expostulated  in  piteous  tones 
from  his  perch  : “If  you  kill  me,  who  will  announce 
to  you  the  appearance  of  the  dawn  ? Who  will  wake 
you  to  your  daily  tasks  ? or  tell  you  when  it  is  time 
to  visit  the  bird-trap  in  the  morning  ? ” He  replied, 
“What  you  say  is  true.  You  are  a capital  bird  at 
telling  the  time  of  day.  But  I and  the  triend  who 
has  come  in  must  have  our  dinners,” 

Necessity  knows  no  law. 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  LION. 

A Wolf  having  stolen  a lamb  from  a fold,  was  carry- 
ing him  off  to  his  lair.  A Lion  met  him  in  the  path, 
and,  seizing  the  lamb,  took  it  from  him.  The  W olf , 
standing  at  a safe  distance,  exclaimed,  “You  have 
unrighteously  taken  that  which  was  mine  from  me.” 
The  Lion  jeeringly  replied,  “It  was  righteously 
yours,  eh?  the  gift  of  a friend?” 


THE  ANT  AND  THE  DOVE. 

An  Ant  went  to  the  bank  of  a river  to  quench  its 
thirst,  and,  being  carried  away  by  the  rush  of  the 
stream,  was  on  the  point  of  being  drowned.  A Dove 


128 


THE  FABLES  OF  AiSOP. 


sitting  on  a tree  overhanging  the  water,  plucked  a 
leaf,  and  let  it  fall  into  the  stream  close  to  her.  The 
Ant,  climbing  on  to  it,  floated  in  safety  to  the  bank. 
Shortly  afterwards  a birdcatclier  came  and  stood 
under  the  tree,  and  laid  his  lime-twigs  for  the  Dove, 
which  sat  in  the  branches.  The  Ant,  perceiving  his 
design,  stung  him  in  the  foot.  He  suddenly  threw 
down  the  twigs,  and  thereupon  made  the  Dove  take 
wing. 

The  grateful  heart  will  always  find  opportunities 
to  show  its  gratitude. 


THE  MONKEY  AND  THE  FISHERMEN. 

A Monkey  perched  upon  a lofty  tree  saw  some 
Fishermen  casting  their  nets  into  a river  and 
narrowly  watched  their  proceedings.  The  Fishermen 
after  a while  gave  over  fishing,  and,  on  going  home 
to  dinner,  left  their  nets  upon  the  bank.  The 
Monkey,  who  is  the  most  imitative  of  animals, 
lescended  from  the  tree-top,  and  endeavored  to  do  as 
hey  had  done.  Having  handled  the  net,  he  threw  it 
into  the  river,  but  became  entangled  in  the  meshes. 
When  drowning,  he  said  to  himself,  “ I am  rightly 
served ; for  what  business  had  I who  had  never 
handled  a net  to  try  and  catch  fish?  ” 


THE  HARES  AND  THE  FROGS. 

The  Hares,  oppressed  with  a sense  of  their  own  ex- 
ceeding timidity,  and  weary  of  the  perpetual  alarm  to 
which  they  were  exposed,  with  one  accord  deter- 
mined to  put  an  end  to  themselves  and  their  troubles, 
by  jumping  from  a lofty  precipice  into  a deep  lake 
below.  As  they  scampered  off  in  a very  numerous 
body  to  carry  out  their  resolve,  the  Frogs  lying  on 
the  banks  of  the  lake  heard  the  noise  of  their  feet, 
and  rushed  helter-skelter  to  the  deep  water  for 
safety.  On  seeing  the  rapid  disappearance  of  the 
Frogs,  one  of  the  Hares  cried  out  to  his  companions: 


130 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


“Stay,  my  friends,  do  not  do  as  you  intended;  for 
you  now  see  that  other  creatures  who  yet  live  are 
more  timorous  than  ourselves.” 


THE  SWAL  AND  THE  GOOSE. 

A certain  rich  man  bought  in  the  market  a Goose 
and  a Swan.  He  fed  the  one  for  his  table,  and  kept 
the  other  for  the  sake  of  its  song.  When  the  time 
came  for  killing  the  Goose,  the  cook  went  to  take 
him  at  night,  when  it  was  dark,  and  he  was  not  able 
to  distinguish  one  bird  from  the  other,  and  he  caught 
the  Swan  instead  of  the  Goose.  The  Swan,  threat- 
ened with  death,  burst  forth  into  song,  and  thus 
made  himself  known  by  his  voice,  and  preserved  his 
life  by  his  melody. 

A word  in  season  is  most  precious. 


THE  DOE  AND  THE  LION. 

A Doe  hard  pressed  by  hunters  entered  a cave  for 
shelter  which  belonged  to  a Lion.  The  Lion  con- 
cealed himself  on  seeing  her  approach;  but.  when 
she  was  safe  within  the  cave,  sprang  upon  her,  and 
tore  her  to  pieces.  “Woe  is  me,”  exclaimed  the 
Doe,  “who  have  escaped  from  man,  only  to  throw 
myself  into  the  mouth  of  a wild  beast!  ” 

In  avoiding  one  evil  care  must  be  taken  not  to  fall 
into  another. 


THE  FISHERMAN  AND  THE  LITTLE  FISH. 

A Fisherman  who  lived  on  the  produce  of  his  nets, 
one  day  caught  a single  small  fish  as  the  result  of 
his  day’s  labor.  The  fish,  panting  convulsively,  thus 
entreated  for  his  life:  ' ‘ O Sir,  what  good  can  I be 

to  you,  and  how  little  am  I worth?  I am  not  yet 
come  to  my  full  size.  Pray  spare  my  life,  and  put 
me  back  into  the  sea.  I shall  soon  become  a large 
fish,  fit  for  the  tables  of  the  rich;  and  then  you  can 
catch  me  again,  and  make  a handsome  profit  of  me.  ” 
The  fisherman  replied,  “I  should  indeed  be  a very 
simple  fellow,  if,  for  the  chance  of  a greater  uncer- 
tain profit,  I were  to  forego  my  present  certain 
gain.” 


132 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  HUNTER  AND  THE  WOODMAN. 

A Hunter,  not  very  bold,  was  searching  for  the 
trapks  of  a Lion.  He  asked  a man  felling  oaks  in 
the  forest  if  he  had  seen  any  marks  of  his  footsteps, 
or  if  he  knew  where  his  lair  was.  “ I will,”  he  said, 
‘ ‘ at  once  show  you  the  Lion  himself.  ” The-  Hunter, 
turning  very  pale,  and  chattering  with  his  teeth 
from  fear,  replied,  “No,  thank  you.  I did  not  ask 
that;  it  is  his  track  only  I am  in  search  of,  net  the 
Lion  himself.” 

The  hero  is  brave  in  deeds  as  well  as  words. 


THE  SWOLLEN  FOX. 

A Fox,  very  much  famished,  seeing  some  bread  and 
meat  left  by  shepherds  in  the  hollow  of  an  oak,  crept 
into  the  hole  and  made  a hearty  meal.  When  he 
finished,  he  was  so  full  that  he  was  not  able  to  get 
out,  and  began  to  groan  and  lament  very  sadly. 
Another  Fox  passing  by,  heard  his  cries,  and  coming 
up,  inquired  the  cause  of  his  complaining.  On  learn- 
ing what  had  happened,  he  said  to  him,  “Ah,  you 
will  have  to  remain  there,  my  friend,  until  you  be- 
come such  as  you  were  when  you  crept  in,  and  then 
you  will  easily  get  out.” 


THE  CAMEL  AND  THE  ARAB. 


An  Arab  Camel-driver  having  completed  the  lading 
of  his  Camel,  asked  him  which  he  would  like  best,  to 
go  up  hill  or  down  hill.  The  poor  beast  replied,  not 
without  a touch  of  reason  : “ Why  do  you  ask  me? 
Is  it  that  the  level  way  through  the  desert  is  closed?  ” 


THE  MILLER,  HIS  SON,  AND  THEIR  ASS. 

A Miller  and  his  son  were  driving  their  Ass  to  a 
neighboring  fair  to  sell  him.  They  had  not  gone  far 
when  they  met  with  a troop  of  women  collected  round 
a well,  talking  and  laughing.  “ Look  there,”  cried 
one  of  them,  “ did  you  ever  see  such  fellows,  to  be 
trudging  along  the  road  on  foot  when  they  might 
ride?”  The  old  man  hearing  this  quickly  made  his 
son  mount  the  Ass,  and  continued  to  walk  along 
merrily  by  his  side.  Presently  they  came  up  to  a 
group  of  old  men  in  earnest  debate.  “ There,”  said 
one  of  them,  “ it  proves  what  I was  a-saying.  What 
respect  is  shown  to  old  age  in  these  days?  Do  you 
see  that  idle  lad  riding  while  his  old  father  has  to 


134 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


walk?  Get  down,  you  young  scapegrace,  and  let 
the  old  man  rest  his  weary  limbs.”  Upon  this  the 
old  man  made  his  son  dismount,  and  got  up  himself. 
In  this  manner  they  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they 
met  a company  of  women  and  children:  “Why,  you 
lazy  old  fellow,”  cried  several  tongues  at  once,  “ how 
can  you  ride  upon  the  beast,  while  that  poor  little 
lad  there  can  hardly  keep  pace  by  the  side  of  you?  ” 
The  good-natured  Miller  immediately  took  up  his 
son  behind  him.  They  had  now  almost  reached  the 
town. 

“ Pray,  honest  friend,”  said  a citizen,  “ is  that  Ass 
your  own?”  “Yes,”  says  the  old  man.  “ O,  one 
would  not  have  thought  so,”  said  the  other,  “ by  the 
way  you  load  him.  Why,  you  two  fellows  are  better 
able  to  carry  the  poor  beast  than  he  you.  ” ‘ ‘Anything 
to  please  you,”  said  the  old  man  ; “we  can  but  try.” 
So,  alighting  with  his  son,  they  tied  the  legs  of  the 
Ass  together,  and  by  the  help  of  a pole  endeavored 
to  carry  him  on  their  shoulders  over  a bridge  near  the 
entrance  of  the  town.  This  entertaining  sight 
brought  the  people  in  crowds  to  laugh  at  it ; till  the 
Ass,  not  liking  the  noise,  nor  the  strange  handling 
that  he  was  subject  to,  broke  the  cords  that  bound 
him,  and,  tumbling  off  the  pole,  fell  into  the  river. 
Upon  this,  the  old  man,  vexed  and  ashamed,  made 
the  best  of  his  way  home  again,  convinced  that  by 
endeavoring  to  please  everybody  he  had  pleased 
nobody,  and  lost  his  Ass  into  the  bargain. 


THE  CAT  AND  THE  MICE. 


A certain  house  was  overrun  with  Mice.  A Cat, 
discovering  this,  made  her  way  into  it,  and  began  to 
catch  and  eat  them  one  by  one.  The  Mice  being  con- 
tinually devoured,  kept  themselves  close  in  their 
holes.  The  Cat,  no  longer  able  to  get  at  them,  per- 
ceived that  she  must  tempt  them  forth  by  some 
device.  For  this  purpose  she  jumped  upon  a peg, 
and  suspending  herself  from  it,  pretended  to  be  dead. 
One  of  the  Mice,  peeping  stealthily  out,  saAv  her,  and 
said,  “ Ah,  my  good  madam,  even  though  you  should 
turn  into  a meal-bag,  we  will  not  come  near  you.” 


136 


THE  FABLES  OF  ,/ESOP. 


THE  MOUSE  AND  THE  BULL, 

A Bull  was  bitten  by  a Mouse,  and,  pained  by  the 
wound,  tried  to  capture  him.  The  Mouse  first  reached 
his  hole  in  safety,  and  the  Bull  dug  into  the  walls 
with  his  horns,  until  wearied,  crouching  down,  he 
slept  by  the  hole.  The  Mouse  peeping  out,  crept 
furtively  up  his  flank,  and,  again  biting  him, 
retreated  to  his  hole.  The  Bull  rising  up,  and  not 
knowing  what  to  do,  was  sadly  perplexed.  The 
Mouse  murmured  forth,  “The  great  do  not  always 
prevail.  There  are  times  when  the  small  and  lowly 
are  the  strongest  to  do  mischief.”  ' 


THE  TWO  FROGS. 

Two  Frogs  dwelt  in  the  same  pool.  The  pool  being 
dried  up  under  the  summer’s  heat,  they  left  it,  and 
set  out  together  for  another  home.  As  they  went 
along  they  chanced  to  pass  a deep  well,  amply  sup- 
plied with  water,  on  seeing  which  one  of  the  Frogs 
said  to  the  other,  “Let  us  descend  and  make  our 
abode  in  this  well:  it  will  furnish  us  with  shelter  and 
food.”  The  other  replied  with  greater  caution,  “ But 
suppose  the  water  should  fail  us,  how  can  we  get 
out  again  from  so  great  a depth?” 

Do  nothing  without  a regard  to  the  consequences. 


THE  DOG  AND  THE  COOK. 


A rtch  man  gave  a great  feast, 
to  which  he  invited  many  friends 
and  acquaintances.  His  dog 
availed  himself  of  the  occasion 
to  invite  a stranger  dog,  a friend 
of  his,  saying,  “ My  master  gives 
a feast;  you  will  have  unusually 
good  cheer;  come  and  sup  with 
me  to-night.  ” The  Dog  thus  in- 
vited went  at  the 
hour  appointed, 
and  seeing  the 
preparations  for 
so  grand  an  en- 
tertainment, 
said, in  the  joy  of 
his  heart,  “How 
glad  I am  that  I 
came!  I do  not 
often  get  such  a 
chance  as  this. 
I will  take  care 
and  eat  enough 


138 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


to  last  me  both  to-day  and  to-morrow.”  While  he 
thus  congratulated  himself,  and  wagged  his  tail,  as 
if  he  would  convey  a sense  of  his  pleasure  to  his 
friend,  the  Cook  saw  him  moving  about  among  his 
dishes,  and,  seizing  him  by  his  fore  and  hind  paws, 
bundled  him  without  ceremony  out  of  the  window. 
He  fell  with  force  upon  the  ground,  and  limped 
away,  howling  dreadfully.  His  yelling  soon  at- 
tracted other  street  dogs,  who  came  up  to  him,  and 
inquired  how  he  had  enjoyed  his  supper.  He  re- 
plied, “ Why,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I drank  so  much 
wine  that  I remember  nothing.  I do  not  know  how 
I got  out  of  the  house.” 

Uninvited  guests  seldom  meet  a welcome. 


THE  THIEVES  AND  THE  COCK. 

Some  thieves  broke  into  a house,  and  found  nothing 
but  a Cock,  whom  they  stole,  and  got  off  as  fast  as 
they  could.  On  arriving  at  home  they  proceeded  to 
kill  the  Cock,  who  thus  pleaded  for  his  life:  “Pray 

spare  me;  I am  very  serviceable  to  men.  I wake 
them  up  in  the  night  to  their  work.”  “That  is  the 
very  reason  why  we  must  the  more  kill  you,”  they 
replied;  “for  when  you  wake  your  neighbors,  you 
entirely  put  an  end  to  our  business.” 

The  safeguards  of  virtue  are  hateful  to  the  evil 
disposed. 


THE  LION,  THE  BEAR,  AND  THE  FOX. 

A Lion  and  a Bear  seized  upon  a kid  at  the  same 
moment,  and  fought  fiercely  for  its  possession. 
When  they  had  fearfully  lacerated  each  other,  and 
were  faint  from  the  long  combat,  they  lay  down  ex- 
hausted with  fatigue.  A Fox,  who  had  gone  round 
them  at  a distance  several  times,  saw  them  both 
stretched  on  the  ground,  and  the  Kid  lying  un- 
touched in  the  middle,  ran  in  between  them,  and 
seizing  the  Kid  scampered  off  as  fast  as  he  could. 
The  Lion  and  the  Bear  saw  him,  but  not  being  able 
to  get  up,  said,  “Woe  betide  us,  that  we  should 
have  fought  and  belabored  ourselves  only  to  serve 
the  turn  of  a Fox ! ” 

It  sometimes  happens  that  one  man  has  all  the 
toil,  and  another  all  the  profit. 


140 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  FARMER  AND  THE  FOX. 

A Farmer,  having  a long  spite  against  a Fox  for 
robbing  bis  poultry  yard,  caught  him  at  last,  and, 
being  determined  to  take  an  ample  revenge,  tied 
some  tow  well  soaked  with  oil  to  bis  tail,  and  set  it 
on  fire.  The  Fox  by  a strange  fatality  rushed  to  the 
fields  of  the  Farmer  who  had  captured  him.  It  was 
the  time  of  the  wheat  harvest;  but  the  Farmer 
reaped  nothing  that  year,  and  returned  home  griev- 
ing sorely. 


THE  DANCING  MONKEYS. 

A Prince  had  some  Monkeys  trained  to  dance. 
Being  naturally  great  mimics  of  men’s  actions,  they 
showed  themselves  most  apt  pupils;  and,  when  ar. 
rayed  in  their  rich  clothes  and  masks,  they  danced 
as  well  as  any  of  the  courtiers.  The  spectacle  was 
often  repeated  with  great  applause,  till  on  one  oc- 
casion a courtier,  bent  on  mischief,  took  from  his 
pocket  a handful  of  nuts,  and  threw  them  upon  the 
stage.  The  Monkeys  at  the  sight  of  the  nuts  forgot 
their  dancing,  and  became  (as  indeed  they  were) 
Monkeys  instead  of  actors,  and  pulling  off  their 
masks,  and  tearing  their  robes,  they  fought  with  one 
another  for  the  nuts.  The  dancing  spectacle  thus 
. came  to  4n  end,  amidst  the  laughter  and  ridicule  of 
the  audience, 


A Sea-gull  having  bolted  down  too  large  a fish, 
burst  its  deep  gullet-bag,  and  lay  down  on  the  shore 
to  die.  A Kite,  seeing  him,  exclaimed  : “ You  richly 
deserve  your  fate  ; for  a bird  of  the  air  has  no  busi- 
ness to  seek  its  food  from  the  sea.” 

Every  man  should  be  content  to  mind  his  own 
business. 


THE  PHILOSOPHER,  THE  ANTS,  AND 
MERCURY. 

A Philosopher  witnessed  from  the  shore  the  ship- 
wreck of  a vessel,  of  which  the  crew  and  passengers 
were  all  drowned,  He  inveighed  against  the  injustice 


142 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


of  Providence,  which  would  for  the  sake  of  one 
criminal  perchance  sailing  in  the  ship  allow  so  many 
innocent  persons  to  perish.  As  he  was  indulging  in 
these  reflections,  he  found  himself  surrounded  by  a 
whole  army  of  Ants,  near  to  whose  nest  he  was 
standing.  One  of  them  climbed  up  and  stung  him, 
and  he  immediately  trampled  them  all  to  death  with 
his  foot.  Mercury  presented  himself,  and  striking 
the  Philosopher  with  his  wand,  said,  “And  are  you 
indeed  to  make  yourself  a judge  of  the  dealings  of 
Providence,  who  hast  thyself  in  a similar  manner 
treated  these  poor  Ants?” 


THE  TRAVELER  AND  FORTUNE. 

A Traveler,  wearied  with  a long  journey,  lay 
down  overcome  with  fatigue  on  the  very  brink  of  a 
deep  well.  Being  within  an  inch  of  falling  into  the 
water.  Dame  Fortune,  it  is  said,  appeared  to  him, 
and  waking  him  from  his  slumber,  thus  addressed 
him:  “ Good  Sir,  pray  wake  up:  for  had  you  fallen 
into  the  well,  the  blame  will  be  thrown  on  me,  and  I 
shall  get  an  ill  name  among  mortals  ; for  I find  that 
men  are  sure  to  impute  their  calamities  to  me,  how- 
ever much  by  their  own  folly  they  have  really 
brought  them  on  themselves.” 

Every  one  is  more  or  less  master  of  his  own  fate, 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  LEOPARD. 

The  Fox  and  the  Leopard  disputed  which  was  the 
more  beautiful  of  the  two.  The  Leopard  exhibited 
one  by  one  the  various  spots  which  decorated  his 
skin.  The  Fox,  interrupting  him,  said,  “And  how 
much  more  beautiful  than  you  am  I,  who  am  decor- 
ated, not  in  body,  but  in  mind.” 


THE  LION  AND  THE  HARE. 

A Lion  came  across  a Hare,  who  was  fast  asleep  on 
her  form.  He  was  just  in  the  act  of  seizing  her, 
when  a fine  young  Hart  trotted  by,  and  he  left  the 
Hare  to  follow  him.  The  Hare,  scared  by  the  noise, 
awoke,  and  scudded  away.  The  Lion  was  not  able 
after  a long  chase  to  catch  the  Hart,  and  he  returned 
to  feed  upon  the  Hare.  On  finding  that  the  Hare 
also  had  run  off,  he  said,  “I  am  rightly  served  for 
having  let  go  the  food  that  I had  in  my  hand  for  the 
phance  of  obtaining  more.” 


144 


THE  FABLES  OF  AiSOP. 


THE  PEASANT  AND  THE  EAGLE. 

A Peasant  found  an  Eagle  captured  in  a trap,  and, 
much  admiring  the  bird,  set  him  free.  The  Eagle 
did  not  prove  ungrateful  to  his  deliverer,  for  seeing 
him  sit  under  a wall,  which  was  not  safe,  he  flew 
towards  him,  and  snatched  off  with  his  talons  a 
bundle  resting  on  his  head,  and  on  his  rising  to  pur- 
sue him  he  let  the  bundle  fall  again.  The  Peasant 
taking  it  up,  and  returning  to  the  same  place,  found 
the  wall  under  which  he  had  been  sitting  fallen  to 
the  ground;  and  he  much  marvelled  at  the  requital 
made  him  by  the  Eagle  for  the  service  he  had 
rendered  him. 


THE  IMAGE  OF  MERCURY  AND  THE  CAR- 
PENTER. 

A very  poor  man.  a Carpenter  by  trade,  had  a 
wooden  image  of  Mercury,  before  which  he  made 
offerings  day  by  day,  and  entreated  the  idol  to  make 
him  rich:  bu.  in  spite  of  his  entreaties  he  became 
poorer  and  poorer.  At  last,  being  very  wroth,  he 
took  his  image  down  from  its  pedestal,  and  dashed 
it  against  the  wall : when  its  head  being  knocked  off 
out  came  a stream  of  gold,  which  the  Carpenter 
quickly  picked  up,  and  said,  “Well,  I think  thou 
art  altogether  contradictory  and  unreasonable;  for 
when  I paid  you  honor,  I reaped  no  benefits:  but 
now  that  I maltreat  you  I am  loaded  with  an  abund- 
ance of  riches.” 


THE  BULL  AND  THE  GOAT 

A Bull,  escaping  from  a Lion,  entered  a cave, 
which  some  shepherds  had  lately  occupied.  A He- 
goat  was  left  in  it,  who  sharply  attacked  him  with 
his  horns.  The  Bull  quietly  addressed  him — 44  Butt 
away  as  much  as  you  will.  I have  no  fear  of  you, 
but  of  the  Lion.  Let  that  monster  once  go,  and  I 
will  soon  let  you  know  what  is  the  respective  strength 
of  a Goat  and  a Bull.” 

It  shows  an  evil  disposition  to  take  advantage  of  a 
friend  in  distress. 


146 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  LAMP. 

A Lamp  soaked  with  too  much  oil,  and  flaring  very- 
much,  boasted  that  it  gave  more  light  than  the  sun. 
A sudden  puff  of  wind  arising,  it  was  immediately 
extinguished.  Its  owner  lit  it  again,  and  said: 
‘ ‘ Boast  no  more,  but  henceforth  be  content  to  give 
thy  light  in  silence.  Know  that  not  even  the  stars 
need  to  be  relit.” 


THE  LION,  THE  FOX,  AND  THE  ASS. 

The  Lion,  the  Fox,  and  the  Ass  entered  into  an 
agreement  to  assist  each  other  in  the  chase.  Having 
secured  a large  booty,  the  Lion,  on  their  return  from 
the  forest,  asked  the  Ass  to  allot  his  due  portion  to 
each  of  the  three  partners  in  the  treaty.  The  Ass 
carefully  divided  the  spoil  into  three  equal  shares, 
and  modestly  requested  the  two  others  to  make  the 
first  choice.  The  Lion,  bursting  out  into  a great 
rage,  devoured  the  Ass.  Then  he  requested  the  Fox 
to  do  him  the  favor  to  make  a division.  The  Fox 
accumulated  all  that  they  had  killed  into  one  large 
heap,  and  left  to  himself  the  smallest  possible 
morsel.  The  Lion  said,  “ Who  has  taught  you  my 
very  excellent  fellow,  the  art  of  division?  “You  are 
perfect  to  a fraction.”  He  replied,  “ I learnt  it  from 
the  Ass,  by  witnessing  his  fate.” 

Happy  is  the  man  who  learns  from  the  misfortunes 
of  others. 


THE  BALD  KNIGHT. 


A bald  Knight,  who  wore  a wig,  went  out  to  hunt. 
A sudden  puff  of  wind  blew  off  his  hat  and  wig,  at 
which  a loud  laugh  rang  forth  from  his  companions. 
He  pulled  up  his  horse,  and  with  great  glee  joined  in 
the  joke  by  saying,  “ What  marvel  that  hairs  which 
are  not  mine  should  fly  from  me,  when  they  have 
forsaken  even  the  man  that  owns  them:  with  whom, 
too,  they  were  born’” 


THE  SHEPHERD  AND  THE  DOG. 


A Shepherd  penning  his  sheep  in  the  fold  for  the 
night  was  about  to  shut  up  a wolf  with  them,  when 
his  Dog  perceiving  the  wolf  said,  “Master,  how  can 
you  expect  the  sheep  to  be  safe  if  you  admit  a wolf 
into  the  fold?” 


148 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


THE  MONKEYS  AND  THEIR  MOTHER. 

The  Monkey,  it  is  said,  has  two  young  ones  at  a . 
hi)  th.  The  mother  fondles  one,  and  nurtures  it  with 
the  greatest  affection  and  care;  but  hates  and 
neglects  the  other.  It  happened  once  on  a time  that 
the  young  one  which  was  caressed  and  loved  was 
smothered  by  the  too  great  affection  of  the  mother, 
while  the  despised  one  was  nurtured  and  reared  in 
' nite  of  the  neglect  to  which  it  was  exposed. 

The  best  intentions  will  not  always  ensure  success. 


THE  OAKS  AND  JUPITER. 

The  Oaks  presented  a complaint  to  Jupiter,  saying, 
“We  bear  for  no  purpose  the  burden  of  life,  as  of  all 
the  trees  that  grow  we  are  the  most  continually  in 
peril  of  the  axe.”  Jupiter  made  answer,  “You  have 
only  to  thank  yourselves  for  the  misfortunes  to 
which  you  are  exposed:  for  if  you  did  not  make  such 
excellent  pillars  and  posts,  and  prove  yourselves  so 
serviceable  to  the  carpenters  and  the  farmers,  the  axe 
would  not  so  frequently  be  laid  to  your  roots.” 


THE  HARE  AND  THE  HOUND. 

A Hound  having  started  a Hare  from  his  form,  after 
a long  run,  gave  up  the  chase.  A Goat-herd  seeing 
him  stop,  mocked  him,  saying,  “ The  little  one  is  the 
best  runner  of  the  two.’’  The  Hound  replied,  “You 
do  not  see  the  difference  between  us:  I was  only 
running  for  a dinner,  but  he,  for  his  life.” 

THE  OAK  AND  THE  WOODCUTTERS. 

The  Woodcutters  cut  down  a Mountain  Oak,  split  it 
in  pieces,  making  wedges  of  its  own  branches  for 
dividing  the  trunk,  anid  for  saving  their  labor.  The 
Oak  said  with  a sigh,  “Ido  not  care  about  the  blows 


150 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


of  the  a^e  aimed  at  my  roots,  but  I do  grieve  at 
being  torn  in  pieces  by  these  wedges  made  from  my 
own  branches.” 

Misfortunes  springing  from  ourselves  are  the 
hardest  to  bear. 


THE  WASP  AND  THE  SNAKE. 

A Wasf  seated  himself  upon  the  head  of  a Snake, 
and  striking  him  unceasingly  with  his  stings  wounded 
him  to  death.  The  Snake,  being  in  great  torment, 
and  not  knowing  how  to  rid  himself  of  his  enemy, 
or  to  scare  him  away,  saw  a wagon  heavily  laden 
with  wood,  and  went  and  purposely  placed  his  head 
under  the  wheels,  and  said,  “ I and  my  enemy  shall 
thus  perish  together.” 


THE  PEACOCK  AND  THE  CRANE. 

A Peacock  spreading  its  gorgeous  tail  mocked  a 
Crane  that  passed  by,  ridiculing  the  ashen  hue  of  its 
plumage,  and  saying,  ‘‘I  am  robed,  like  a king,  in 
gold  and  purple,  and  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow; 
while  you  have  not  a bit  of  color  on  your  wings.” 
“ True,”  replied  the  Crane;  “ but  I soar  to  the  heights 
of  heaven,  and  lift  up  my  voice  to  the  stars,  while 
you  walk  below,  like  a cock,  among  the  birds  of  the 
dunghill.  ” 

Fine  feathers  don’t  make  fine  birds. 


THE  HEN  AND  THE  GOLDEN  EGGS. 

A Cottager  and  his  wife  had  a Hen,  which  laid  every 
day  a golden  egg.  They  supposed  that  it  must  con- 
tain a great  lump  of  gold  in  its  inside,  and  killed  it  in 
order  that  they  might  get  it,  when  to  their  surprise 
they  found  that  the  Hen  differed  in  no  respect  from 
their  other  hens.  The  foolish  pair,  thus  hoping  to 
become  rich  all  at  once,  deprived  themselves  of  the 
gain  of  which  they  were  day  by  day  assured. 


152 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  FROGS. 

An  Ass,  carrying  a load  of  wood,  passed  through  a 
pond.  As  he  was  crossing  through  the  water  he  lost 
his  footing,  and  stumbled  and  fell,  and  not  being  able 
to  raise  on  account  of  bis  load,  he  groaned  heavily. 
Some  Frogs  frequenting  the  pool  heard  his  lamenta- 
tion, and  said,  “What  would  you  do  if  you  had  to 
live  here  always  as  we  do,  when  you  make  such  a 
fuss  about  a mere  fall  into  the  water?” 

Men  often  bear  littte  grievances  with  less  courage 
than  they  do  large  misfortunes. 


THE  CROW  AND  THE  RAVEN. 

A Crow  was  very  jealous  of  the  Raven,  because  lie 
was  consi  ered  a bird  of  good  omen,  and  always 
attracted  the  attention  of  men,  as  indicating  by  his 
flight  the  good  or  evil  course  of  future  events.  Seeing 
some  travellers  approaching,  she  flew  up  into  a tree, 
and  perching  herself  on  one  of  the  branches,  cawed 
as  loudly  as  she  could.  The  travellers  turned  towards 
the  sound,  and  wondered  what  it  boded,  when  one  of 
them  said  to  his  companion,  “ Let  us  proceed  on  our 
journey,  my  friend,  for  it  is  only  the  caw  of  a crow, 
and  her  cry,  you  know,  is  no  omen.” 

Those  who  assume  a character  which  does  not 
belong  to  them,  only  make  themselves  ridiculous. 


THE  TREES  3i’jQ>  x IE  AXE. 

A Man  came  into  a foi.^%  Q made  a petition  to 
the  Trees  to  provide  him  a haiuLj  for  his  axe.  The 
Trees  consented  to  his  request,  and  gave  him  a young 
ash-tree.  Xo  sooner  had  the  man  fitted  from  it  a new 
handle  to  his  axe,  than  he  began  to  use  it,  and  quickly 
felled  with  his  strokes  the  noblest  giants  of  the  forest. 
An  old  oak,  lamenting  when  too  late  the  destruc- 
tion of  his  companions,  said  to  a neighboring  cedar, 
“ The  first  step  has  lost  us  alL  If  we  had  not  given 
up  the  rights  of  the  ash,  we  might  yet  have  retained 
our  own  privileges,  and  have  oL  & for  ages.” 


154 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  BULL,  THE  LIONESS,  AND  THE  WILD- 
BOAR  HUNTER. 

A Bull  finding  a lion’s  cub  asleep  gored  him  to 
death  with  his  horns.  The  Lioness  came  up,  and 
bitterly  lamented  the  death  of  her  whelp.  A Wild- 
boar  Hunter  seeing  her  distress,  stood  afar  off,  and 
said  to  her,  “ Think  how  many  men  there  are  who 
have  reason  to  lament  the  loss  of  their  children, 
whose  deaths  have  been  caused  by  you.” 


THE  WOLVES  AND  THE  SHEEP-DOGS. 

The  Wolves  thus  addressed  the  Sheep-dogs:  ‘ ‘Why 
should  you,  who  are  like  us  in  so  many  things,  not 
be  entirely  of  one  mind  with  us,  and  live  with  us  as 
brothers  should?  We  differ  from  you  in  one  point 
only.  We  live  in  freedom,  but  you  bow  down  to,  &nd 
slave  for,  men ; who,  in  return  for  your  services,  flog 
you  with  whips,  and  put  collars  on  your  necks. 
They  make  you  also  guard  their  sheep,  and  while 
they  eat  the  mutton  throw  only  the  bones  to  you.  If 
you  will  be  persuaded  by  us,  you  will  give  us  the 
sheep,  and  we  will  enjoy  them  in  common,  till  we 
all  are  surfeited.”  The  Dogs  listened  favorably  to 
these  proposals,  and,  entering  the  den  of  the  Wolves, 
they  were  set  upon  and  torn  to  pieces. 


THE  BOWMAN  AND  LION. 

A very  skilful  Bowman  went  to  the  mountains  in 
search  of  game.  Ail  the  beasts  of  the  forest  fled  at 
his  approach.  The  Lion  alone  challenged  him  to 
combat.  The  Bowman  immediately  let  fly  an  arrow, 
and  said  to  the  Lion:  “I  send  thee  my  messenger, 
that  from  him  thou  mayest  learn  what  I myself  shall 
be  when  I assail  thee.”  The  Lion,  thus  wounded, 
rushed  away  in  great  fear,  and  on  a Fox  exhorting 
him  to  be  of  good  courage,  and  not  to  run  away  at 
the  first  attack,  he  replied:  “ You  counsel  me  in  vain, 


156 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


for  if  he  sends  so  fearful  a messenger,  how  shall  I 
abide  the  attack  of  the  man  himself?” 

A man  who  can  strike  from  a distance  is  no  pleas- 
ant neighbor. 


THE  CAMEL. 

When  man  first  saw  the  Camel,  he  was  so  frightened 
at  his  vast  size  that  he  fled  away.  After  a time,  per- 
ceiving the  meekness  and  gentleness  of  his  temper, 
he  summoned  courage  enough  to  approach  him.  Soon 
afterwards,  observing  that  he  was  an  animal  alto- 
gether deficient  in  spirit,  he  assumed  such  boldness  as 
to  put  a bridle  in  his  mouth,  and  set  a child  to  drive 
him. 

Use  serves  to  overcome  dread. 


THE  CRAB  AND  THE  FOX. 

A CRi  v,  forsaking  the  sea-shore,  chose  a neighboring 
green  meadow  as  its  feeding  ground.  A Fox  came 
across  him,  and  being  very  much  famished  ate  him 
up.  Just  as  he  was  on  the  point  of  being  eaten,  he 
said,  “ I well  deserve  my  fate;  for  what  business  had 
I on  the  land,  when  by  my  nature  and  habits  I am 
only  adapted  for  the  sea?” 

Contentment  with  our  lot  is  an  element  of  happi- 


ness* 


THE  WOMAN  AND  HER  HEN. 

A Woman  possessed  a Hen  that  gave  her  an  egg 
every  day.  She  often  thought  with  herself  how  she 
might  obtain  two  eggs  daily  instead  of  one,  and  at 
last,  to  gain  her  purpose,  determined  to  give  the  Hen 
a double  allowance  of  barley.  From  that  day  the  Hen 
became  fat  and  sleek,  and  never  once  laid  another 
egg. 

Covetousness  overreaeheth  itself. 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  OLD  SHEPHERD. 

A Suepher]  watched  liis  Ass  feeding  in  a meadow. 
Being  alarmed  on  a sudden  by  the  cries  of  the  enemy, 
he  appealed  to  the  Ass  to  fly  with  him,  lest  they 


158 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


should  both  be  captured.  He  lazily  replied,  “ Why 
should  I,  pray  ? Do  you  think  it  likely  the  conqueror 
will  place  on  me  two  sets  of  panniers?”  “No,”  re- 
joined the  Shepherd.  “Then,”  said  the  Ass,  “as 
long  as  I carry  the  panniers,  what  matters  it  to  me 
whom  I serve?” 

In  a change  of  government  the  poor  change  noth- 
ing beyond  the  name  of  their  master. 


THE  KITES  AND  THE  SWANS. 

The  Kites  of  old  time  had,  equally  with  the  Swans, 
the  privilege  of  song.  But  having  heard  the  neigh 
of  the  horse,  they  were  so  enchanted  with  the  sound, 
that  they  tried  to  imitate  it;  and,  in  trying  to  neigh, 
they  forgot  how  to  sing. 

The  desire  for  imaginary  benefits  often  involves 
the  loss  of  present  blessings. 


THE  HARES  AND  THE  FOXES. 

The  Hares  waged  war  with  the  Eagles,  and  called 
upon  the  Foxes  to  help  them.  They  replied,  “We 
would  willingly  have  helped  you,  if  we  had  not  known 
who  ye  were,  and  with  whom  ye  were  fighting.” 
Count  the  cost  before  you  commit  yourselves. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  HEDGEHOG. 

A Fox  swimming  across  a rapid  river  was  carried  by 
the  force  of  the  current  into  a very  deep  ravine,  where 
he  lay  for  a long  time  very  much  bruised  and  sick,  and 
unable  to  move.  A swarm  of  hungry  blood-sucking 
flies  settled  upon  him.  A Hedgehog  passing  by  com- 
passionated his  sufferings,  and  inquired  if  he  should 
drive  away  the  flies  that  were  tormenting  him.  “ By 
no  means,”  replied  the  Fox;  “pray  do  not  molest 
them.”  “How  is  this?”  said  the  Hedgehog;  “do  you 
not  want  to  be  rid  of  them?”  “No,”  returned  the  Fox; 
“for  these  flies  which  you  see  are  full  of  blood,  and 
sting  me  but  little,  and  if  you  rid  me  of  these  which 
are  already  satiated,  others  more  hungry  will  come  in 
their  place,  and  will  drink  up  all  the  blood  I have  left. w 


160 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


THE  HOG  AND  THE  HARE. 

Hound  having  started  a Hare  on  the  hill-side 
pursued  her  for  some  distance : at  one  time  biting  her 
with  his  teeth  as  if  he  would  taka  her  life,  and  at 
another  time  fawning  upon  her,  as  if  in  play  with 
another  dog.  The  Hare  said  to  him,  ‘'I  wish  you 
would  act  sincerely  by  me,  and  show  yourself  in  your 
true  colors.  If  you  are  a friend,  why  do  you  bite  me 
so  hard?  if  an  enemy,  why  do  you  fawn  on  me?” 

They  are  no  friends  whom  you  know  not  whether 
to  trust  or  to  distrust. 

THE  BULL  AND  THE  CALF. 

A Bull  was  striving  with  all  his  might  to  squeeze 
himself  through  a narrow  passage  which  led  to  his 
stall.  A young  Calf  came  up,  and  offered  to  go  before 
and  show  him  the  way  by  which  he  could  manage  to 
pass.  “ Save  yourself  the  trouble,”  said  the  Bull;  “I 
knew  that  way  long  before  you  were  born.” 

THE  STAG,  THE  WOLF,  AND  THE  SHEEP. 
A Stag  asked  a Sheep  to  lend  him  a measure  of 
wheat,  and  said  that  the  Wolf  would  be  his  surety. 
The  Sheep,  fearing  some  fraud  was  intended,  excused 
herself,  saying,  “The  Wolf  is  accustomed  to  seize 
what  he  wants,  and  to  run  off;  and  you,  too,  can 
quickly  outstrip  me  in  your  rapid  flight.  How  then 
shall  I be  able  to  find  you,  when  the  day  of  payment 
comes?” 

Two  blacks  do  not  make  one  white 


THE  MULE. 


A Mule,  frolicsome  from  want  of  work  and  from 
overmuch  corn,  galloped  about  in  a very  extravagant 
manner,  and  said  to  himself:  “My  father  surely  was 
a high-mettled  racer,  and  I am  his  own  child  in  speed 
and  spirit.”  On  the  next  day,  being  driven  a long 
journey,  and  feeling  very  wearied,  he  exclaimed  in 
a disconsolate  tone:  “I  must  have  made  a mistake; 
my  father,  after  all,  could  have  been  only  an  ass.” 


THE  EAGLE,  THE  CAT,  AND  THE  WILD  SOW. 

An  Eagle  had  made  her  nest  at  the  top  of  a lofty 
oak.  A Cat,  having  found  a convenient  hole,  kittened 
in  the  middle  of  the  trunk  ; and  a Wild  Sow,  with  her 


162 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


young,  had  taken  shelter  in  a hollow  at  its  foot.  The 
Cat  resolved  to  destroy  by  her  arts  this  chance-made 
colony.  To  carry  out  her  design,  she  climbed  to  the 
nest  of  the  Eagle,  and  said,  “Destruction  is  preparing 
for  you,  and  for  me  too,  unfortunately.  The  Wild 
Sow,  whom  you  may  see  daily  digging  up  the  earth, 
wishes  to  uproot  the  oak,  that  she  may  on  its  fall 
seize  our  families  as  food  for  her  young.”  Having 
thus  deprived  the  Eagle  of  her  senses  through  terror, 
she  crept  down  to  the  cave  of  the  Sow,  and  said, 
“Your  children  are  in  great  danger;  for  as  soon  as 
you  shall  go  out  with  your  litter  to  find  food,  the 
Eagle  is  prepared  to  pounce  upon  one  of  your  little 
pigs.”  Having  instilled  these  fears  into  the  Sow,  she 
went  and  pretended  to  hide  herself  in  the  hollow  of 
the  tree.  When  night  came  she  went  forth  with  silent 
foot  and  obtained  food  for  herself  and  her  kittens; 
but,  feigning  to  be  afraid,  she  kept  a look-out  all 
through  the  day.  Meanwhile,  the  Eagle,  full  of  fear 
of  the  Sow,  sat  still  on  the  branches,  and  the  Sow, 
terrified  by  the  Eagle,  did  not  dare  to  go  out  from 
her  cave;  and  thus  they  each,  with  their  families, 
perished  from  hunger,  and  afforded  an  ample  pro- 
vision to  the  Cat  and  her  kittens. 


THE  CROW  AND  THE  PITCHER. 

A Crow  perishing  with  thirst  saw  a pitcher,  and, 
hoping  to  find  water,  flew  to  it  with  great  delight. 
When  he  reached  it,  he  discovered  to  his  grief  that  it 
contained  so  little  water  that  he  could  not  possibly 
get  at  it.  He  tried  everything  he  could  think  of  to 
reach  the  w ater,  but  all  his  efforts  were  in  vain.  At 
last  he  collected  as  many  stones  as  he  could  carry, 
and  dropped  them  one  by  one  with  his  beak  into  the 
pitcher,  until  he  brought  the  water  within  his  reach, 
and  thus  saved  his  life. 

Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention. 


164 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  FOX. 

A Very  large  and  strong  Wolf  was  born  among  the 
wolves,  who  exceeded  all  his  fellow-wolves  in 
strength,  size,  and  swiftness,  so  that  they  gave  him, 
with  unanimous  consent,  the  name  of  “Lion.”  The 
W olf , with  a want  of  sense  proportioned  to  his  enor- 
mous size,  thought  that  they  gave  him  this  name  in 
earnest,  and,  leaving  his  own  race,  consorted  exclu- 
sively with  the  lions.  An  old  sly  Fox,  seeing  this, 
said,  “May  I never  make  myself  so  ridiculous  as  you 
do  in  your  pride  and  self-conceit;  for  you  really  show 
like  a lion  among  wolves,  whereas  in  a herd  of  lions 
you  are  a wolf.” 


THE  PROPHET. 

A W izard,  sitting  in  the  market-place,  told  the  for- 
tunes of  the  passers-by.  A person  ran  up  in  great 
haste,  and  announced  to  him  that  the  doors  of  his 
house  had  been  broken  open,  and  that  all  his  goods 
were  being  stolen.  He  sighed  heavily,  and  hastened 
away  as  fast  as  he  could  run.  A neighbor  saw  him 
running,  and  said,  “Oh!  you  follow  those?  you  say 
you  can  foretell  the  fortunes  of  others;  how  is  it  you 
did  not  foresee  your  own?” 


THE  FOX  AND  THE 
GRAPES. 

A famished  Fox  saw  some 
clusters  of  ripe  black  grapes 
hanging  from  a trellised 
vine.  She  resorted  to  all 
her  tricks  to  get  at  them, 
but  wearied  herself  in  vain, 
for  she  could  not  reach 
them.  At  last  she  turned 


away  beguiling  herself  of  her  disappointment  and 
saying:  “The  Grapes  are  sour,  and  not  ripe  as  1 
thought.” 


1 66 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


THE  SERPENT  AND  THE  EAGLE. 

A Serpent  and  an  Eagle  were  struggling  with  each 
other  in  the  throes  of  a deadly  conflict.  The  Serpent 
had  the  advantage,  and  was  about  to  strangle  the 
bird.  A countryman  saw  them,  and  running  up, 
loosed  the  coil  of  the  Serpent,  and  let  the  Eagle  go 
free.  The  Serpent,  irritated  at  the  escape  of  his 
prey,  let  fly  his  poison,  and  injected  it  into  the  drink- 
ing horn  of  the  countryman.  The  rustic,  ignorant 
of  his  danger,  was  about  to  drink,  when  the  Eagle 
struck  his  hand  with  his  wing,  and,  seizing  the 
drinking  horn  i-n  his  talons,  carried  it  up  aloft. 


THE  TWO  FROGS. 

Two  Frogs  were  neighbors.  The  one  inhabited  a 
deep  pond,  far  removed  from  public  view;  the  other 
lived  in  a gully  containing  little  water,  and  traversed 
by  a country  road.  He  that  lived  in  the  pond  warned 
his  friend,  and  entreated  him  to  change  his  residence, 
and  to  come  and  live  with  him,  saying  that  he  would 
enjoy  greater  safety  from  danger  and  more  abundant 
food.  The  other  refused,  saying  that  he  felt  it  so 
very  hard  to  remove  from  a place  to  which  he  had 
become  accustomed.  A few  days  afterwards  a heavy 
wagon  passed  through  the  gully,  and  crushed  him  to 
death  under  its  wheels. 

A wilful  man  will  have  his  way  to  his  own  hurt 


THE  HART  AND  THE  VINE. 

A Hart,  hard  pressed  in  the  chase,  hid  himself  be- 
neath the  large  leaves  of  a Vine.  The  huntsmen,  in 
their  haste,  overshot  the  place  of  his  concealment; 
when  the  Hart,  supposing  all  danger  to  have  passed, 
began  to  nibble  the  tendrils  of  the  Vine.  One  of  the 
huntsmen,  attracted  by  the  rustling  of  the  leaves, 
looked  back,  and,  seeing  the  Hart,  shot  an  arrow 
from  his  bow,  and  killed  it.  The  Hart,  at  the  point 
of  death,  groaned  out  these  words,  “I  am  rightly 
served;  for  I ought  not  to  have  maltreated  the  Vine 
that  saved  me.” 


THE  THIEF  AND  THE  INNKEEPER 
A Thief  hired  a room  in  a tavern,  and  stayed  some 
days,  in  the  hope.of  stealing  something  which  should 
enable  him  to  pay  his  reckoning.  When  he  had 


168 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


waited  some  days  in  vain,  he  saw  the  Innkeeper 
dressed  in  a new  and  handsome  coat,  and  sitting  be- 
fore his  door.  The  Thief  sat  down  beside  him,  and 
talked  with  him.  As  the  conversation  began  to  flag, 
the  Thief  yawned  terribly,  and  at  the  same  time 
howled  like  a wolf.  The  Innkeeper  said,  “Why -do 
you  howl  so  fearfully?”  “I  will  tell  you,”  said  the 
Thief:”  “but  first  let  me  ask  you  to  hold  my  clothes, 
for  I wish  to  leave  them  in  your  hands.  I know  not, 
sir,  when  I got  this  habit  of  yawning,  nor  whether 
these  attacks  of  howling  were  inflicted  on  me  as  a 
judgment  for  my  crimes,  or  for  any  other  cause;  but 
this  I do  know,  that  when  I yawn  for  the  third  time, 
I actually  turn  into  a wolf,  and  attack  men.”  With 
this  speech  he  commenced  a second  fit  of  yawning, 
and  again  howled  as  a wolf,  as  he  did  at  first.  The 
Innkeeper  hearing  his  tale,  and,  believing  what  he 
said,  became  greatly  alarmed,  and  rising  from  his 
seat,  attempted  to  run  away.  The  Thief  laid  hold  of 
his  coat,  and  entreated  him  to  stop,  saying,  “Pray 
wait,  sir,  and  hold  my  clothes,  or  I shall  tear  them 
to  pieces  in  my  fury,  jvhen  I turn  into  a wolf.”  At 
the  same  moment  he  yawned  the  third  time,  and  set 
up  a howl  like  a wolf.  The  Innkeeper,  frightened 
lest  he  should  be  attacked,  left  his  new  coat  in  his 
hand,  and  ran  as  fast  as  he  could  into  the  inn  for 
safety.  The  Thief  made  off  with  his  new  coat,  and 
did  not  return  again  to  the  inn. 

Every  tale  is  not  to  be  believed. 


THE  KID  AND  THE  WOLF. 

A Kid,  returning  without  protection  from  the  pas- 
ture, was  pursued  by  a Wolf.  He  turned  round,  and 
said  to  the  Wolf:  “I  know,  friend  Wolf,  that  I must 
be  your  prey;  but  before  I die,  I would  ask  of  you 
one  favor,  that  you  will  play  me  a tune,  to  which  I 
may  dance.”  The  Wolf  complied,  and  while  he  was 
piping,  and  the  Kid  was  dancing,  the  hounds,  hear- 
ing the  sound,  came  up,  and,  issuing  forth,  gave 
chase  to  the  Wolf.  The  Wolf,  turning  to  the  Kid, 
said,  “It  is  just  what  I deserve;  for  I,  who  am  only  a 
butcher,  should  not  have  turned  piper  to  please  you.” 


170 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  WALNUT-TREE. 

A Walnut-tree  standing  by  the  roadside  bore  an 
abundant  crop  of  fruit.  The  passers-by  broke  its 
branches  with  stones  and  sticks  for  the  sake  of  the 
nuts.  The  Walnut-tree  piteously  exclaimed,  “0 
wretched  me!  that  those  whom  I cheer  with  my 
fruit  should  repay  me  with  these  painful  requitals!” 


THE  GNAT  AND  THE  LION. 

A Gnat  came  and  said  to  a Lion,  “I  do  not  the  least 
fear  you,  nor  are  you  stronger  than  I am.  For  in 
what  does  your  strength  consist?  You  can  scratch 
with  your  claws,  and  bite  with  your  teeth — so  can  a 
woman  in  her  quarrels.  I repeat  that  I am  altogether 
more  powerful  than  you;  and  if  you  doubt  it,  let  us 
fight  and  see  who  will  conquer.  ” The  Gnat,  having 
sounded  his  horn;  fastened  itself  upon  the  Lion,  and 
stung  him  on  the  nostrils  and  the  parts  of  the  face 
devoid  of  hair.  The  Lion,  trying  to  crush  him,  tore 
himself  with  his  claws,  until  he  punished  himself 
severely.  The  Gnat  thus  prevailed  over  the  Lion, 
and,  buzzing  about  in  a song  of  triumph,  flew  away. 
But  shortly  afterwards  he  became  entangled  in  the 
meshes  of  a cobweb,  and  was  eaten  by  a spider.  He 
greatly  lamented  his  fate,  saying,  ‘Woe  is  me!  that 
I,  who  can  wage  war  successfully  with  the  hugest 
beasts,  should  perish  myself  from  this  spider,  the 
most  inconsiderable  of  insects  1” 


THE  MONKEY  AND  THE  DOLPHIN. 

A Sailor,  bound  on  a long  voyage,  took  with  him  a 
Monkey  to  amuse  him  while  on  shipboard.  As  he 
sailed  off  the  coast  of  Greece,  a violent  tempest  arose, 
in  which  the  ship  was  wrecked,  and  he,  his  Monkey, 
and  all  the  crew  were  obliged  to  swim  for  their  lives. 
A Dolphin  saw  the  Monkey  contending  with  the 
waves,  and  supposing  him  to  be  a man  (whom  he  is 
always  said  to  befriend),  came  and  placed  himself 
under  him,  to  convey  him  on  his  back  in  safety  to 
the  shore.  When  the  Dolphin  arrived  with  his  bur- 


172 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


den  in  sight  of  land  not  far  from  Athens,  he  de- 
manded of  the  Monkey  if  he  were  an  Athenian,  who 
replied  that  he  was,  and  that  he  was  descended  from 
one  of  the  most  noble  families  in  that  city.  He 
tker  inquired  if  he  knew  the  Piraeus  (the  famous 
harbor  of  Athens).  The  Monkey,  supposing  that  a 
man  was  meant,  answered,  that  he  knew  him  very 
well,  and  that  he  was  an  intimate  friend.  The  Dol- 
phin, indignant  at  these  falsehoods,  dipped  the  Mon- 
key under  the  water,  and  drowned  him. 


THE  JACKDAW  AND  THE  DOYES. 

A Jackdaw  seeing  some  Doves  in  a cote  abundantly 
provided  with  food,  painting  himself  white,  joined 
himself  to  them,  that  he  might  share  their  plentiful 
maintenance.  The  Doves  as  long  as  he  was  silent, 
supposing  him  to  be  one  of  themselves,  admitted 
him  to  their  cote;  but  when,  one  day  forgetting  him- 
self, he  began  to  chatter,  they,  discovering  his  true 
character,  drove  him  forth,  pecking  him  with  their- 
beaks.  Failing  to  obtain  food  among  the  Doves,  he 
betook  himself  again  to  the  Jackdaws.  They  too, 
not  recognizing  him  on  account  of  his  color,  ex- 
celled him  from  living  with  them.  So  desiring  two 
jbjects,  he  obtained  neither. 


THE  HORSE  AND  THE  STAG. 

The  Horse  had  the  plain  entirely  to  himself.  A Stag 
intruded  into  his  domain,  and  shared  his  pasture. 
The  Horse  desiring  to  revenge  himself  on  the 
stranger,  requested  a man,  if  he  were  willing,  to  help 
him  in  punishing  the  Stag.  The  man  replied,  that 
if  the  Horse  would  receive  a bit  in  his  mouth,  and 
agree  to  carry  him,  that  he  would  contrive  effectual 
weapons  against  the  Stag.  The  horse  consented, 
and  allowed  the  man  to  mount  him.  From  that  hour 
he  found  that,  instead  of  obtaining  revenge  on  the 
Stag,  he  had  enslaved  himself  to  the  service  of  man. 


174 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  MONKEY. 

A Fox  and  a Monkey  were  travelling  together  on  the 
same  road.  As  they  journeyed,  they  passed  through 
a cemetery  full  of  monuments.  “All  these  monu- 
ments which  you  see,”  said  the  Monkey,  “are  erected 
in  honor  of  my  ancestors,  who  were  in  their  day 
freed  men,  and  citizens  of  great  renown.”  The  Fox 
replied,  “You  have  chosen  a most  appropriate  sub- 
ject for  your  falsehoods,  as  I am  sure  none  of  your 
ancestors  will  be  able  to  contradict  you.” 

A false  tale  often  betrays  itself. 


THE  MAN  AND  HIS  WIFE. 

A Man  had  a Wife  who  made  herself  hated  by  all 
the  members  of  his  household.  He  wished  to  find 
out  if  she  had  the  same  effect  on  the  persons  in  her 
father’s  house.  He  therefore  made  some  excuse  to 
send  her  home  on  a visit  to  her  father.  After  a short 
time  she  returned,  when  he  inquired  how  she  had  got 
on,  and  how  the  servants  had  treated  her.  She  re- 
plied, “The  neatherds  and  shepherds  cast  on  me 
looks  of  aversion.”  He  said,  “O  Wife,  if  you  were 
disliked  by  those  who  go  out  early  in  the  morning 
with  their  flocks,  and  return  late  in  the  evening, 
what  must  have  been  felt  towards  you  by  those  with 
whom  you  passed  the  whole  of  the  day!” 

Straws  show  how  the  wind  blows. 


THE  THIEF  AND  THE  HOUSE-DOG. 

A Thief  came  in  the  night  to  break  into  a house. 
He  brought  with  him  several  slices  of  meat,  that  he 
might  pacify  the  House-dog,  so  that  he  should  not 
alarm  his  master  by  barking.  As  the  Thief  threw 
him  the  piece  of  meat,  the  Dog  said,  “If  you  think 
to  stop  my  mouth,  you  will  be  greatly  mistaken. 
This  sudden  kindness  at  your  hands  will  only  make 
me  more  watchful,  lest  under  these  unexpected 
favors  to  myself,  you  have  some  private  ends  to 
accomplish  for  your  own  benefit,  and  for  my  master’s 
injury. 


5 


176 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


THE  MAN,  THE  HORSE,  THE  OX,  AND  THE 

DOG. 

A Horse,  Ox,  and  Dog,  driven  to  great  straits  by  the 
cold,  sought  shelter  and  protection  from  Man.  He 
received  them  kindly,  lighted  a fire,  and  warmed 
them.  He  made  the  Horse  free  of  his  oats,  gave  the 
Ox  abundance  of  hay,  and  fed  the  Dog  with  meat 
from  his  own  table.  Grateful  for  these  favors,  they 
determined  to  repay  him  to  the  best  of  their  ability. 
They  divided  for  this  purpose  the  term  of  his  life 
between  them,  and  each  endowed  one  portion  of  it 
with  the  qualities  which  chiefly  characterized  him- 
self. The  Horse  chose  his  earliest  years,  and  en- 
dowed them  with  his  own  attributes:  lienee  every 
man  is  in  his  youth  impetuous,  headstrong,  and  ob- 
stinate in  maintaining  hte  own  opinion.  The  Ox  took 
under  his  patronage  the  next  term  of  life,  and  there- 
fore man  in  his  middle  age  is  fond  of  work,  devoted 
to  labor,  and  resolute  to  amass  wealth,  and  to  hus- 
band his  resources.  The  end  of  life  was  reserved  to 
the  Dog,  wherefore  the  old  man  is  often  snappish, 
irritable,  hard  to  please,  and  selfish,  tolerant  only  of 
h s own  household,  but  averse  to  strangers,  and  to 
ah  who  do  not  administer  to  his  comfort  or  to  his 
necessities. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  LION. 

A Fox  who  had  never  yet  seen  a Lion,  when  he  fell 
in  with  him  by  a certain  chance  for  the  first  time  in 
the  forest,  was  so  frightened  that  he  was  near  dying 


with  fear.  On  his  meeting  with  him  for  the  second 
time,  he  was  still  much  alarmed,  but  not  to  the  same 
extent  as  at  first.  On  seeing  him  the  third  time,  he 


THE  FABLES  OF  iBSOP. 


so  increased  in  boldness  that  he  went  up  to  him,  and 
commenced  a familiar  conversation  with  him. 
Acquaintance  softens  prejudices. 


THE  WEASEL  AND  THE  MICE. 

A Weasel,  inactive  from  age  and  infirmities,  was 
not  able  to  catch  mice  as  he  once  did.  He  therefore 
rolled  himself  in  flour  and  lay  down  in  a dark  corner. 
A Mouse,  supposing  him  to  be  food,  leapt  upon  him, 
and,  being  instantly  caught,  was  squeezed  to  death. 
Another  perished  in  a similar  manner,  and  then  a 
third,  and  still  others  after  them.  A very  old  Mouse, 
who  had  escaped  full  many  a trap  and  snare,  observ- 
ing from  a safe  distance  the  trick  of  his  crafty  foe, 
said,  “Ah!  you  that  lie  there,  may  you  prosper  just 
in  the  same  proportion  as  you  are  what  you  pretend 
to  e!” 


THE  BOY  BATHING. 


A Boy  bathing  in  a river  was  in  danger  of  being 
drowned.  He  called  out  to  a traveller,  passing  by, 
for  help.  The  traveller,  instead  of  holding  out  a 
helping  hand,  stood  up  unconcernedly,  and  scolded 
the  boy  for  his  imprudence.  “Oh,  sir!”  cried  the 
youth,  “prey  help  me  now,  and  scold  me  afterwards.” 
Counsel,  without  help,  is  useless. 


THE  APES  AND  THE  TWO  TRAVELLERS. 
Two  men,  one  of  whom  always  spoke  the  truth  and 
the  other  told  nothing  but  lies,  were  travelling 
together,  and  by  chance  came  to  the  land  of  Apes. 


180 


THE  FABLES  OF  AESOP. 


One  of  the  Apes,  who  had  raised  himself  to  be  king, 
commanded  them  to  be  laid  hold  of,  and  brought  be- 
fore him,  that  he  might  know  what  was  said  of  him 
among  men.  He  ordered  at  the  same  time  that  all 
the  Apes  should  be  arranged  in  a long  row  on  his 
right  hand  and  on  his  left,  and  that  a throne  should 
be  placed  for  him,  as  was  the  custom  among  men. 
After  these  preparations  he  signified  his  will  that 
the  two  men  should  be  brought  before  him,  and 
greeted  them  with  this  salutation:  “What  sort  of  a 
king  do  I seem  to  you  to  be,  O strangers?”  The  lying 
Traveller  replied,  “You  seem  to  me  a most  mighty 
king.”  “And  what  is  your  estimate  of  those  you 
see  around  me?”  “These,”  he  made  answer,  “are 
worthy  companions  of  yourself,  fit  at  least  to  be  am- 
bassadors and  leaders  of  armies.”  The  Ape  and  all 
his  court,  gratified  with  the  lie,  commanded  a hand- 
some present  to  be  given  to  the  flatterer.  On  this  the 
truthful  Traveller  thought  within  himself,  “If  so 
great  a reward  be  given  for  a lie,  with  what  gift 
-may  not  I be  rewarded,  if,  according  to  my  custom, 
I shall  tell  the  truth?”  The  Ape  quickly  turned  to 
him.  “And  pray  how  do  I and  these  my  friends 
around  me  seem  to  you?”  “Thou  art,”  he  said,  “a 
most  excellent  Ape,  and  all  these  thy  companions 
after  thy  example  are  excellent  Apes,  too.”  The 
King  of  the  Apes,  enraged  at  hearing  these  truths, 
gave  him  over  to  the  teeth  and  claws  of  his  com- 
panions. 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  SHEPHERD. 

A Wolf  followed  a flock  of  sheep  for  a long  time, 
and  did  not  attempt  to  injure  one  of  them.  The 
Shepherd  at  first  stood  on  his  gua-rd  against  him,  as 
against  an  enemy,  and  kept  a strict  watch  over  his 
movements.  But  when  the  Wolf,  day  after  day,  kept 
in  the  company  of  the  sheep,  and  did  npt  make  the 
slightest  effort  to  seize  them,  the  Shepherd  began  to 
look  upon  him  as  a guardian  of  his  flock  rather  than 
as  a plotter  of  evil  against  it;  and  when  occasion 
called  him  one  day  into  the  city,  he  left  the  sheep 
entirely  in  his  charge.  The  Wolf,  now  that  he  had 
the  opportunity,  fell  upon  the  sheep,  and  destroyed 
the  greater  part  of  the  flock.  The  Shepherd  on  his 


182 


THE  FABLES  OF  AESOP. 


return  finding  his  flock  destroyed,  exclaimed:  “I 
have  been  rightly  served;  why  did  I trust  my  sheep 
to  a Wolf?” 


THE  HARES  AND  THE  LIONS. 

The  Hares  harangued  the  assembly,  and  argued  that 
all  should  be  on  an  equality.  The  Lions  made  this 
reply:  “Your  words,  0 Hares!  are  good;  but  they 
lack  both  claws  aud  teeth  such  as  we  have.” 


THE  LARK  AND  HER  YOUNG  ONES. 

A Lark  had  made  her  nest  in  the  early  spring  on 
the  young  green  wheat.  The  brood  had  almost  grown 
to  their  proper  strength,  and  attained  the  use  of  their 
wings  and  the  full  plumage  of  their  feathers,  when 
the  owner  of  the  field,  overlooking  his  crop,  now 
quite  ripe,  said,  “ The  time  is  come  when  I must  send 
to  all  my  neighbors  to  help  me  with  my  harvest.” 
One  of  the  young  Larks  heard  his  speech,  and  related 
it  to  his  mother,  inquiring  of  her  to  what  place  they 
should  move  for  safety.  “ There  is  no  occasion  to 
move  yet,  my  son,”  she  replied;  “the  man  who  only 
sends  to  his  friends  to  help  him  with  his  harvest  is 


184 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


not  really  in  earnest.”  The  owner  of  the  field  again 
came  a few  days  later,  and  saw  the  wheat  shedding 
the  grain  from  excess  of  ripeness,  and  said,  “I  will 
come  myself  to-morrow  with  my  laborers,  and  with 
as  many  reapers  as  I can  hire,  and  will  get  in  the 
harvest."  The  Lark  on  hearing  these  words,  said  to 
her  brood,  “It  is  time  now  to  be  off,  my  little  ones, 
for  the  man  is  in  earnest  this  time;  he  no  longer 
trusts  to  his  friends,  but  will  reap  the  field  himself.” 
Self-help  is  the  best  help. 


THE  PEACOCK  AND  JUNO. 

The  Peacock  made  complaint  to  Juno  that,  while 
the  nightingale  pleased  every  ear  with  his  song,  he 
no  sooner  opened  his  mouth  than  he  became  a laugh- 
ing-stock to  all  who  heard  him.  The  Goddess,  to 
console  him,  said,  “But  you  far  excel  in  beauty  and 
size.  The  splendor  of  the  emerald  shines  in  your 
neck,  and  you  unfold  a tail  gorgeous  with  painted 
plumage.”  “But  for  what  purpose  have  I.”  said  the 
bird,  “this  dumb  beauty  so  long  as  l am  surpassed 
in  song?”  “The  lot  of  each,”  replied  Juno,  “has 
been  assigned  by  the  will  of  the  Fates — to  thee, 
beauty;  to  the  eagle,  strength;  to  the  nightingale, 
song;  to  the  raven,  favorable,  and  to  the  crow,  un- 
favorable, auguries.  These  are  all  contented  with 
the  endowments  allotted  to  them.  ” 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  WOLF. 

An  Ass,  feeding  in  a meadow,  saw  a Wolf  approach- 
ing to  seize  him,  and  immediately  pretended  to  he 
lame.  The  Wolf,  coming  up,  inquired  the  cause  of 
his  lameness.  The  Ass  said,  that  passing  through  a 
hedge  he  trod  with  his  foot  upon  a sharp  thorn,  and 
requested  the  Wolf  to  pull  it  out,  lest  when  he  supped 
on  him  it  should  injure  his  throat.  The  Wolf  con- 
senting, and  lifting  up  the  foot,  and  giving  his  whole 
mind  to  the  discovery  of  the  thorn,  the  Ass  with  hit 
heels  kicked  his  teeth  into  his  mouth,  and  galloped 
away.  The  Wolf,  being  thus  fearfully  mauled,  said, 
“I  am  rightly  served,  for  why  did  I attempt  the  art 
of  healing,  when  my  father  only  taught  m^  the  trw*e 
of  a butcher?” 


186 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


THE  SELLER  OF  IMAGES. 

A certain  man  made  a wooden  image  of  Mercury, 
and  offered  it  for  sale.  When  no  one  appeared  will- 
ing to  buy  it,  in  order  that  he  might  attract  purchas- 
ers, he  cried  out  that  he  had  the  statue  to  sell  of  a 
benefactor,  who  bestowed  wealth  and  helped  to  heap 
up  riches.  One  of  the  bystanders  said  to  him,  “My 
good  fellow,  “'why  do  you  sell  him,  being  such  a one 
as  you  describe,  when  you  may  yourself  enjoy  the 
good  things  he  has  to  give?”  “Why,”  he  replied, 
“I  am  in  want  of  immediate  help,  and  he  is  wont  to 
give  his  good  gifts  very  slowly.” 


THE  HAWK  AND  THE  NIGHTINGALE. 

A Nightingale  sitting  aloft  upon  an  oak,  and  sing- 
ing according  to  his  wont,  was  seen  by  a Hawk, 
who  being  in  want  of  food,  made  a swoop  down,  and 
seized  him.  The  Nightingale,  about  to  lose  his  life, 
earnestly  besought  the  Hawk  to  let  him  go,  saying 
that  he  was  not  big  enough  to  satisfy  the  hunger  of 
a Hawk,  who,  if  he  wanted  food,  ought  to  pursue 
the  larger  birds.  The  Hawk,  interrupting  him,  said: 
“I  should  indeed  have  lost  my  senses  if  I should  let 
go  food  ready  to  my  hand,  for  the  sake  of  pursuing 
birds  which  are  not  yet  even  within  sight.” 


THE  DOG, 

THE  COCK,  AXD  THE  FOX. 

A Dog  and  a Cock,  being  great 
friends,  agreed  to  travel  together. 
At  nightfall  they  took  shelter  in  a 
thick  wood.  The  Cock,  flying  up, 
perched  himself  on  the  branches  of 
a tree,  while  the  Dog  found  a bed  be- 
neath in  the  hollow  trunk.  When 


188 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


the  morning  dawned,  the  Cock,  as  usual,  crowed 
very  loudly  several  times.  A Fox  hearing  the  sound, 
and  wishing  to  make  a breakfast  on  him,  came  and 
stood  under  the  branches,  saying  how  earnestly  he 
desired  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  owner  of  so 
magnificent  a voice.  The  Cock,  suspecting  his  civi- 
lities, said:  “Sir,  I wish  you  would  do  me  the  favor 
to  go  round  to  that  hollow  trunk  below  me,  and  wake 
up  my  porter,  that  he  may  open  the  door,  and  let  you 
in.”  On  the  Fox  approaching  the  tree,  the  Dog 
sprung  out  and  caught  hirri,  and  tore  him  in  pieces. 


THE  GOAT  AND  THE  ASS. 

A man  once  kept  a Goat  and  an  Ass.  The  Goat 
envying  the  Ass  on  account  of  his  greater  abundance 
of  food,  said,  “How  shamefully  you  are  treated:  at 
one  time  grinding  in  the  mill,  and  at  another  carry- 
ing heavy  burdens;”  and  he  further  advised  him  that 
he  should  pretend  to  be  epileptic,  and  fall  into  a 
ditch,  and  so  obtain  rest.  The  Ass  gave  credence  to 
his  words,  and  falling  into  a ditch,  was  very  much 
bruised.  His  master,  sending  for  a leech,  asked  his 
advice.  He  bade  him  pour  upon  the  wounds  the 
lights  of  a Goat.  They  at  once  killed  the  Goat,  and 
so  healed  the  Ass.  , • 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  MASK. 

A Fox  entered  the  house  of  an  actor.  and,  rummag- 
ing through  all  his  properties,  came  upon  a Mask, 
an  admirable  imitation  of  a human  head.  He  placed 
his  paws  on  it,  and  said,  “What  a beautiful  head! 
yet  it  is  of  no  value,  as  it  entirely  wants  brains.  ” 


THE  LION  AND  THE  BULL. 

A Lion,  greatly  desirous  of  fighting  a Bull,  and  yet 
afraid  to  attack  him  on  account  of  his  great  size* 
resorted  to  a trick  to  ensure  his  destruction.  He 
approached  him  and  said.  kT  have  slain  a fine  sheep, 
my  friend;  and  if  you  will  come  home  and  partake 
of  him  with  me,  I shall  be  delighted  to  have  your 
company/’  The  Lion  said  this  in  the  hope  that,  as 
the  Bull  was  in  the  act  of  reclining  to  eat,  he  might 


190 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


attack  him  to  advantage,  and  make  his  meal  on  him. 
The  Bull,  however,  on  his  approach  to  his  den,  saw 
the  huge  spits  and  giant  caldrons,  and  no  sign  what- 
ever of  the  sheep,  and,  without  saying  a word, 
quietly  took  his  departure.  The  Lion  inquired  why 
he  went  off  so  abruptly  without  a word  of  salutation 
to  his  host,  who  had  not  given  him  any  cause  of 
offence.  “I  have  reasons  enough,”  said  the  Bull. 
“I  see  no  indication  whatever  of  your  having 
slaughtered  a sheep,  while  I do  see,  very  plainly, 
every  preparation  for  your  dining  on  a bull. 

THE  GRASSHOPPER  AND  TPIE  OWL. 

An  Owl,  accustomed  to  feed  at  night  and  to  sleep 
during  the  day,  was  greatly  disturbed  by  the  noise 
of  a Grasshopper,  and  earnestly  besought  her  to 
leave  off  chirping.  The  Grasshopper  refused  to  de- 
sist, and  chirped  louder  and  louder  the  more  the  Owl 
entreated.  The  Owl,  when  she  saw  that  she  could 
get  no  redress,  and  that  her  words  were  despised, 
attacked  the  chatterer  by  a stratagem.  “ Since  I 
cannot  sleep,”  she  said,  “on  account  of  your  song, 
which,  believe  me,  is  sweet  as  the  lyre  of  Apollo,  I 
shall  indulge  myself  in  drinking  some  nectar  which 
Pallas  lately  gave  me.  If  you  do  not  dislike  it,  come 
to  me,  and  we  will  drink  it  together.”  The  Grass- 
hopper, who  was  at  once  thirsty,  and  pleased  with 
the  praise  of  her  voice,  eagerly  flew  up.  The  Owl, 
coming  forth  from  her  hollow,  seized  her,  and  put 
her  to  death. 


THE  WOLF 

AND 

THE  GOAT. 

A Wolf  saw  a Goat  feed- 
ing at  the  summit  of  a steep 
precipice,  where  he  had 
not  a chance  of  reaching 
her.  He  called  to  her,  and 
earnestly  besought  her  to 
come  lower  down,  lest  she 
should  by  some  mishap  get 


a fall;  and  he  added  that  the  meadows  lay  where  he 
was  standing,  and  that  the  herbage  was  most  tender. 
She  replied,  “No,  my  friend,  it  is  not  me  that  you  in- 
vite to  the  pasture,  but  you  yourself  are  in  want  of 
food.55 


192 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


THE  FOWLER  AND  THE  VIPER. 

A Fowler,  taking  his  bird-lime  and  his  twigs,  went 
out  to  catch  birds.  Seeing  a thrush  sitting  upon  a 
tree,  lie  wished  to  take  it,  and  fitting  his  twigs  to  a 
proper  length,  he  watched  intently,  having -his  whole 
thoughts  directed  towards  the  sky.  While  thus 
looking  upwards,  he  unawares  trod  upon  a Viper 
asleep  just  before  his  feet.  The  Viper,  turning 
towards  him,  stung  him;  and  he,  falling  into  a swoon, 
said  to  himself,  “Woe  is  me!  that  while  I proposed 
to  hunt  another,  am  myself  fallen  unawares  into 
the  snares  of  death.” 


THE  HORSE  AND  THE  ASS. 

A Horse,  proud  of  his  fine  trappings,  met  an  Ass  on 
the  highway.  The  Ass  being  heavily  laden  moved 
slowly  out  of  the  way.  “Hardly,”  said  the  Horse, 
“can  I resist  kicking  you  with  with  my  heels.”  The 
Ass  held  his  peace,  and  made  only  a silent  appeal  to 
the  justice  of  the  gods.  Not  long  afterwards  the 
Horse,  having  become  broken-winded,  was  sent  by 
his  owner  to  the  farm.  The  Ass  seeing  him  draw- 
ing a dung-cart,  thus  derided  him:  “Where,  O 

boaster,  are  now  all  thy  gay  trappings,  thou  who 
art  thyself  reduced  to  the  condition  you  so  lately 
treated  with  contempt?” 


THE  LION  AND  THE  THREE  BULLS. 

"Three  Bulls  for  a long  time  pastured  together.  A 
Lion  lay  in  ambush  in  the  hope  of  making  them  his 
prey,  but  was  afraid  to  attack  them  whilst  they  kept 
together.  Having  at  last  by  guileful  speeches  suc- 
ceeded in  separating  them,  he  attacked  them  with- 
out fear,  as  they  fed  alone,  and  fasted  on  them  one 
by  one  at  his  own  leisure. 

Union  is  strength. 


194 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  FLY  AND  THE  DRAUGHT-MULE. 

A Fly  sat  on  the  axle-tree  of  a chariot,  and  address^ 
mg  the  Draught-mule  said,  “How  slow  you  are! 
Why  do  you  not  go  faster?  See  if  I do  not  prick 
your  neck  with  my  sting.”  The  Draught-mule  re- 
plied, “I  do  not  heed  your  threats;  I .only  care  for 
him  who  sits  above  you,  who  quickens  my  pace  with 
his  whip,  or  holds  me  back  with  the  reins.  Away, 
therefore,  with  your  insolence,  for  I know  well  when 
to  go  fast,  and  when  to  go  slow.” 


THE  FISHERMEN. 

Some  Fishermen  were  out  trawling  their  nets.  Per- 
ceiving them  to  be  very  heavy,  they  danced  about 
for  joy,  and  supposed  they  had  taken  a large  draught 
of  fish.  When  they  had  dragged  the  nets  to  the 
shore  they  found  but  few  fish,  and  that  the  nets  were 
full  of  sand  and  stones,  and  they  were  beyond  meas- 
ure cast  down — not  so  much  at  the  disappointment 
which  had  befallen  them,  as  because  they  had  formed 
such  very  different  expectations.  One  of  their  com- 
pany, an  old  man,  said,  “Let  us  cease  lamenting, 
my  mates,  for,  as  it  seems  to  me,  sorrow  is  always 
the  twin  sister  of  joy;  and  it  was  only  to  be  looked 
for  that  we,  who  just  now  were  over-rejoiced,  should 
next  have  something  to  make  us  sad.” 


THE  TOWN  MOUSE  AND  THE  COUNTRY 
MOUSE. 

A Country  Mouse  invited  a Town  Mouse,  an  inti- 
mate friend,  to  pay  him  a visit,  and  partake  of  his 
country  fare.  As  they  were  on  the  bare  plough- 
lands, eating  their  wheat-stalks  and  roots  pulled  up 
from  {he  hedge-row,  the  Town  Mouse  said  to  his 
friend,  “You  live  here  the  life  of  the  ants:  while  in 
my  house  is  the  horn  of  plenty.  I am  surrounded 
with  every  luxury,  and  if  you  will  come  with  me,  as 
I much  wish  you  would,  you  shall  have  an  ample 
share  of  my  dainties.”  The  Country  Mouse  was 
easily  persuaded,  and  returned  to  town  with  his 
friend.  On  his  arrival,  the  Town  Mouse  placed  be- 
fore him  bread,  barley,  beans,  dried  figs,  honey, 
raisins,  and,  last  of  all,  brought  a dainty  piece  of 
cheese  from  a basket.  The  Country  Mouse,  being 
much  delighted  at  the  sight  of  such  good  cheer,  ex- 


196 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP. 


pressed  his  satisfaction  in  warm  terms,  and  lamented 
his  own  hard  fate.  Just  as  they  were  beginning  to 
eat,  some  one  opened  the  door,  and  they  both  ran  off 
squeaking  as  fast  as  they  could  to  a hole  so  narrow 
that  two  could  only  find  room  in  it  by  squeezing. 
They  had  scarcely  again  begun  their  repast  when 
some  one  else  entered  to  take  something  out  of  a cup- 
board, on  which  the  two  Mice,  more  frightened  than 
before,  ran  away  and  hid  themselves.  At  last  the 
Country  Mouse,  almost  famished,  thus  addressed  his 
friend:  “Although  you  have  prepared  for  me  so 

dainty  a feast,  I must  leave  you  to  enjoy  it  by  your- 
self. It  is  surrounded  by  too  many  dangers  to  please 
me.  I prefer  my  bare  plough-lands  and  roots  from 
the  hedge-row,  so  that  I only  can  live  in  safety,  and 
without  fear.” 


THE  WOLF,  THE  FOX,  AND  THE  APE. 

A Wolf  accused  a Fox  of  theft,  but  he  entirely  de- 
nied the  charge.  An  Ape  undertook  to  adjudge  the 
matter  between  them.  When  each  had  fully  stated 
his  case,  the  Ape  pronounced  this  sentence:  “I  do 

not  think  you,  Wolf,  ever  lost  what  you  claim;  and 
I do  believe  you,  Fox,  to  have  stolen  what  you  so 
stoutly  deny.” 

The  dishonest,  if  they  act  honestly,  get  no  credit. 


THE  GEESE 

AND 

THE  CRANES. 


The  Geese  and  the  Cranes 
fed  in  the  same  meadow.  A 
bird-catcher  came  to  ensnare 
them  in  his  nets.  The  Cranes 


being  light  of  wing,  fled  away  at  his  approach;  while 
the  Geese,  being  slower  of  flight  and  heavier  in  their 
bodies,  were  captured. 


THE  WASPS,  THE  PARTRIDGES,  AND  THE 
FARMER. 

The  W asps  and  the  Partridges,  overcome  with  thirst, 
came  to  a Farmer  and  besought  him  to  give  them 
some  water  to  drink.  They  promised  amply  to  repay 
him  the  favor  which  they  asked.  The  Partridges 


198 


THE  FABLES  OF  vESOP. 


declared  that  they  would  dig  around  his  vines,  and 
make  them  produce  finer  grapes.  The  Wasps  said 
that  they  would  keep  guard  and  drive  off  thieves 
with  their  stings.  The  Farmer,  interrupting  them, 
said:  ' - 1 have  already  two  oxen,  who  without  mak- 
ing any  promises,  do  all  these  things.  It  is  surely 
better  for  me  to  give  the  water  to  them  than  to  you.” 


THE  BROTHER  AND  THE  SISTER. 

A father  had  one  son  and  one  daughter;  the  former 
remarkable  for  his  good  looks,  the  latter  for  her  ex- 
traordinary ugliness.  While  they  were  playing  one 
day  as  children,  they  happened  to  chance  to  look 
together  into  a mirror  that  was  placed  on  their 
mother’s  chair.  The  boy  congratulated  himself  on 
his  good  looks;  the  girl  grew  angry,  and  could  not 
bear  the  self-praises  of  her  Brother;  interpreting  all 
he  said  (and  how  could  she  do  otherwise?)  into  reflec- 
tion on  herself.  She  ran  off  to  her  father,  to  be 
avenged  in  her  turn  on  her  Brother,  and  spitefully 
accused  him  of  having,  as  a boy,  made  use  of  that 
which  belonged  only  to  girls.  The  father  embraced 
them  both,  and  bestowing  his  kisses  and  affection 
impartially  on  each,  said:  “I  wish  you  both  every 
day  to  look  into  the  mirror:  you,  my  son,  that  you 
may  not  spoil  your  beauty  by  evil  conduct;  and  you, 
my  daughter,  that  you  may  make  up  for  your  want 
of  beauty  by  your  virtues.” 


THE  BLIND  MAN  AND  THE  WHELP 

A Blind  Man  was  accustomed  to  distinguish  differ- 
ent animals  by  touching  them  with  his  hands.  The 
whelp  of  a Wolf  was  brought  him,  with  a request 
that  he  would  feel  it,  and  say  what  it  was.  He  felt 
it,  and  being  in  doubt,  said:  “I  do  not  quite  know 
whether  it  is  the  cub  of  a Fox,  or  the  whelp  of  a 
Wolf;  but  this  I know  full  well,  that  it  would  not  be 
safe  to  admit  him  to  the  sheepfold.” 

Evil  tendencies  are  shown  in  early  life. 


200 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  DOGS  AND  THE  FOX. 

Some  Dogs,  finding  the  skin  of  a lion,  began  to  tear 
it  in  pieces  with  their  teeth.  A Fox,  seeing  them. 
Said,  “If  this  lion  were  alive,  you  would  soon  find 
out  that  his  claws  were  stronger  than  your  teeth.  ” 

It  is  easy  to  kick  a man  that  is  down. 

THE  COBBLER  TURNED  DOCTOR. 

A Cobbler  unable  to  make  a living  by  his  trade, 
rendered  desperate  by  poverty,  began  to  practice 
medicine  in  a town  in  which  he  was  not  known. 
He  sold  a drug,  pretending  that  it  was  an  antidote 
to  all  poisons,  and  obtained  a great  name  for  himself 
by  long-winded  puffs  and  advertisements.  He  hap- 
pened to  fall  sick  himself  of  a serious  illness,  on 
which  the  Governor  of  the  town  determined  to  test' 
his  skill.  For  this  purpose  he  called  for  a cup,  and. 
while  filling  it  with  water,  pretended  to  mix  poison 
with  the  Cobbler’s  antidote,  and  commanded  him  to 
drink  it,  on  the  promise  of  a reward.  The  Cobbler, 
under  the  fear  of  death,  confessed  that  he  had  no 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  was  only  made  famous 
by  the  stupid  clamors  of  the  crowd.  The  Governor 
called  a public  assembly,  and  thus  addressed  the 
citizens:  “Of  what  folly  have  you  been  guilty?  You 
have  not  hesitated  to  entrust  your  heads  to  a man, 
whom  no  one  could  employ  to  make  even  the  shoes 
for  their  feet.” 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  HORSE. 

A Wolf  coming  out  of  a field  of  oats  met  with  a 
Horse,  and  thus  addressed  him:  “I  would  advise  you 
to  go  into  that  field.  It  is  full  of  capital  oats,  which 
I have  left  untouched  for  you,  as  you  are  a friend 
the  very  sound  of  whose  teeth  it  will  be  a pleasure 
to  me  to  hear.”  The  Horse  replied,  “If  oats  had 
been  the  food  of  wolves,  you  would  never  have  in- 
dulged your  ears  at  the  cost  of  your  belly.” 

Men  of  evil  reputation,  when  they  perform  a good 
deed,  fail  to  get  credit  for  it. 


202 


THE  FABLES  OF  ,-ESOP. 


THE  TWO  MEN  WHO  WERE  ENEMIES. 
Two  Men,  deadly  enemies  to  each  other,  sailed  in 
the  same  vessel.  Determined  to  keep  as  far  apart  as 
possible,  the  one  seated  himself  in  the  stern,  and  the 
other  in  the  prow  of  the  ship.  A violent  storm  hav- 
ing arisen,  and  the  vessel  being  in  great  danger  of 
sinking,  the  one  in  the  stern  inquired  of  the  pilot 
which  of  the  two  ends  of  the  ship  would  go  down 
first.  On  his  replying  that  he  supposed  it  would  be 
the  prow,  then  said  the  Man,  “Death  would  not  be 
grievous  to  me,  if  I could  only  see  my  Enemy  die 
before  me.” 


THE  GAME-COCKS  AND  THE  PARTRIDGE. 

A Man  had  two  Game-cocks  in  his  poultry -yard. 
One  day  by  chance  he  fell  in  with  a tame  Partridge 
for  sale.  He  purchased  it,  and  brought  it  home  that 
it  might  be  reared  'with  his  Game-cocks.  On  its 
being  put  into  the  poultry -yard  they  struck  at  it,  and 
followed  it  about,  so  that  the  Partridge  was  griev- 
ously troubled  in  mind,  and  supposed  that  he  was 
thus  evilly  treated  because  he  was  a stranger.  Not 
long  afterwards  he  saw  the  Cocks  fighting  together, 
and  not  separating  before  one  had  well  beaten  the 
other.  He  then  said  to  himself,  “I  shall  no  longer 
distress  myself  at  being  struck  at  by  these  Game- 
cocks, when  I see  that  they  cannot  even  refrain 
from  quarrelling  with  each  other.” 


THE  QUACK  FROG. 

A Frog  once  on  a time  came  forth  from  his  home  in 
the  marsh,  and  made  proclamation  to  all  the  beasts 
that  he  was  a learned  physician,  skilled  in  the  use 
of  drugs,  and  able  to  heal  all  diseases.  A Fox  asked 
him,  “How  can  you  pretend  to  prescribe  for  others, 
who  are  unable  to  heal  your  own  lame  gait  and 
wrinkled  skin?” 


THE  LION,  THE  WOLF,  AND  THE  FOX. 

A Lion,  growing  old,  lay  sick  in  his  cave.  All  the 
beasts  came  to  visit  their  king,  except  the  Fox.  The 
Wolf,  therefore,  thinking  that  he  had  a capital 


204 


THE  FABLES  OF  ,/ESOP. 


portunity,  accused  the  Fox  to  the  Lion  for  not  pay- 
» ing  any  respect  to  him  who  had  the  rule  over  them 
all,  and  for  not  coming  to  visit  him.  At  that  very 
moment  the  Fox  came  id,  and  heard  these  last  words, 
of  the  W olf . The  Lion  roaring  out  in  a rage  against 
him,  he  sought  an  opportunity  to  defend  himself, 
and  said,  “And  who  of  all  those  who  have  come  to 
you  have  benefited  you  so  much  as- 1,  who  have 
travelled  from  place  to  place  in  every  direction,  and 
have  sought  and  learnt  from  the  physicians  the 
means  of  healing  you?”  The  Lion  commanded  him 
immediately  to  tell  him  the  cure,  when  he  replied, 
“You  must  flay  a wolf  alive,  and  wrap  his  skin  yet 
warm  around  you.”  The  Wolf  was  at  once  taken 
and  flayed;  whereon  the  Fox,  turning  to  him,  said, 
with  a smile,  “You  should  have  moved  your  master 
not  to  ill,  but  to  good,  will.” 


THE  DOG’S  HOUSE. 

A Dog,  in  the  winter  time,  rolled  together  and  coiled 
up  in  as  small  a space  as  possible  on  account  of  the 
cold,  determined  to  make  himself  a house.  When 
the  summer  returned  again  he  lay  asleep,  stretched 
at  his  full  length,  and  appeared  to  himself  to  be  of  a 
great  size,  and  considered  that  it  would  be  neither 
an  easy  nor  a necessary  work  to  make  himself  such 
a house  as  would  accommodate  him. 


THE  NORTH  WIND  AND  THE  SUN. 

The  North  Wind  and  the  Sun  disputed  which  was 
the  most  powerful,  and  agreed  that  he  should  be 
declared  the  victor,  who  could  first  strip  a wayfaring 
man  of  his  clothes.  The  North  Wind  first  tried  his 
power,  and  blew  with  all  his  might:  but  the  keener 
became  his  blasts,  the  closer  the  Travellerwrapped 
his  cloak  around  him;  till  at  last,  resigning  all  hope 
of  victory,  he  called  upon  the  Sun  to  see  what  he 
could  do.  The  Sun  suddenly  shone  out  with  all  his 
warmth.  The  Traveller  no  sooner  felt  his  genial 
rays  than  he  took  off  one  garment  after  another,  and 


206 


THE  FABLES  OF  ;ESOP. 


at  last,  fairly  overcome  with  heat,  undressed,  and 
bathed  in  a stream  that  lay  in  his  path. 

Persuasion  is  better  than  Force. 


THE  CROW  AND  MERCURY. 

A Crow  caught  in  a snare  prayed  to  Apollo  to  release 
him,  making  a vow  to  offer  some  frankincense  at 
his  shrine.  Being  rescued  from  his  danger,  he  forgot 
his  promise.  Shortly  afterwards,  on  being  again 
caught  in  a second  snare,  passing  by  Apollo  he  made 
the  same  promise  to  offer  frankincense  to  Mercury, 
when  he  appeared,  and  said  to  him,  “ O thou  most 
base  fellow!  how  can  I believe  thee,  who  hast  dis- 
owned and  wronged  thy  former  patron 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


207 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  CRANE. 

A Fox  invited  a Crane  to  supper,  and  provided 
nothing  for  his  entertainment  but  some  soup  made 
of  pulse,  and  poured  out  into  a broad  flat  stone  dish.. 
The  soup  fell  out  of  the  long  bill  of  the  Crane  at 
every  mouthful,  and  his  vexation  at  not  being  able 
to  eat  afforded  the  Fox  most  intense  amusement. 
The  Crane,  in  his  turn,  asked  the  Fox  to  sup  with 
him,  and  set  before  her  a flagon,  with  a long  narrow 
mouth,  so  that  he  could  easily  insert  his  neck,  and 
enjoy  its  contents  at  his  leisure;  while  the  Fox,  un- 
able even  to  taste  it,  met  with  a fitting  requital,  after 
the  fashion  of  her  own  hospitality. 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  LION. 

A Wolf,  roaming  by  the  mountain's  side,  saw  his 
own  shadow,  as  the  sun  was  setting,  become  greatly 
extended  and  magnified,  and  he  said  to  himself, 
4 4 Why  should  I,  being  of  such  an  immense  size;  and 
extending  nearly  an  acre  in  length,  be  afraid  of  the 
Lion?  Ought  I not  to  be  acknowledged  as  King  of 
all  the  collected  beasts?”  While  he  was  indulging 
in  these  proud  thoughts,  a Lion  fed  upon  him,  and 
killed  him.*  He  exclaimed  with  a too  late  repentance, 
4 ‘Wretched  me!  this  over-estimation  of  myself  is  the 
cause  of  my  destruction.” 


208 


THE  FABLES  OF  ,ESOP. 


THE  BIRDS,  THE  BEASTS,  AND  THE  BAT. 

The  Birds  waged  war  with  the  Beasts,  and  each 
party  were  by  turns  the  conquerors.  A Bat,  fearing 
the  uncertain  issues  of  the  fight,  always  betook  him- 
self to  that  side  which  was  the  strongest.  When 
peace  was  proclaimed,  his  deceitful  conduct  was  ap- 
parent to  both  the  combatants,  he  was  driven  forth 
from  the  light  of  day,  and  henceforth  concealed 
himself  in  dark  hiding-places,  flying  always  alone 
and  at  night. 


THE  SPENDTHRIFT  AND  THE  SWALLOW. 

A young  man,  a great  spendthrift,  had  run  through 
all  his  patrimony,  and  had  but  one  good  cloak  left. 
He  happened  to  see  a Swallow,  which  had  appeared 
before  its  season,  skimming  along  a pool  and  twit- 
tering gaily.  He  supposed  that  summer  had  come, 
and  went  and  sold  his  cloak.  Not  many  days  after, 
the  winter  having  set  in  again  with  renewed  frost 
and  cold,  he  found  the  unfortunate  Swallow  lifeless 
on  the  ground;  and  said,  “ Unhappy  bird!  what  have 
you  done?  By  thus  appearing  before  the  spring- 
time you  have  not  only  killed  yourself,  but  you  have 
wrought  my  destruction  also.” 


THE  TRUMPETER  TAKEN  PRISONER. 

A Trumpeter,  bravely  leading  on  the  soldiers,  was 
captured  by  the  enemy.  He  cried  out  to  his  captors, 
“Pray  spare  me,  and  do  not  take  my  life  without 
cause  or  without  injury.  I have  not  slain  a single 
man  of  your  troop.  I have  no  arms,  and  carry 
nothing  but  this  one  brass  trumpet.”  “ That  is  the 
very  reason  for  which  you  should  be  put  to  death,” 
they  said;  “for  while  you  do  not  fight  yourself,  your 
trumpet  stirs  up  all  the  others  to  battle.” 


210 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  LION. 

A Fox  saw  a Lion  confined  in  a cage,  and,  standing 
near  him,  bitterly  reviled  him.  The  Lion  said  to  the 
Fox,  “ It  is  not  thou  who  revilest  me;  but  this  mis- 
chance which  has  befallen  me.” 


THE  OWL  AND  THE  BIRDS. 

An  Owl,  in  her  wisdom,  counselled  the  Birds,  when 
the  acorn  first  began  to  sprout,  to  pull  it  up  by  all 
means  out  of  the  ground,  and  not  to  allow  it  to  grov 
because  it  would  pi-oduce  the  mistletoe,  from  whicl 
an  irremediable  poison,  the  bird-lime,  would  be  ex 
tracted,  by  which  they  would  be  captured.  The  Ow‘. 
next  advised  them  to  pluck  up  the  se^d  of  the  flax 
which  men  had  sown,  as  it  was  a plant  which  bodec 
no  good  to  them.  And,  lastly,  the  Owl,  seeing  ar 
archer  approach,  predicted  that  this  man,  being  oi 
foot,  would  contrive  darts  armed  with  feathers 
which  should  fly  faster  than  the  wings  of  the  Birdi 
themselves.  The  Birds  gave  no  credence  to  thesi 
warning  words,  but  considered  the  Owl  to  be  besid/ 
herself,  and  said  that  she  was  mad.  But  afterwards 
finding  her  words  were  true,  they  wondered  at  he 
knowledge,  and  deemed  her  to  be  the  wisest  of  birds 
Hence  it  is  that  when  she  appears  they  resort  to  he 
as  knowing  all  things;  while  she  no  longer  give: 
them  advice,  but  in  solitude  laments  their  past  folly. 


THE  ASS  IN  THE  LION’S  SKIN. 


An  Ass,  having  put  on  the  Lion’s  skin,  roamed  about 
in  the  forest,  and  amused  himself  by  frightening  all 
the  foolish  animals  he  met  with  in  his  wanderings. 
At  last  meeting  a Fox,  he  tried  to  frighten  him  also, 
but  the  Fox  no  sooner  heard  the  sound  of  his  voice, 
than  he  exclaimed,  “I  might  possibly  have  been 
frightened  myself,  if  I had  not  heard  your  bray.” 


THE  GOODS  AND  THE  ILLS. 

All  the  Goods  were  once  driven  out  by  the  Ills  from 
that  common  share  which  they  each  had  in  the 
affairs  of  mankind;  for  the  Ills  by  reason  of  their 
numbers  had  prevailed  to  possess  the  earth.  The 
Goods  wafted  themselves  to  heaven,  and  asked  for  a 


212 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP. 


righteous  vengeance  on  their  persecutors.  They  en- 
treated Jupiter  that  they  might  no  longer  be  asso- 
ciated with  the  I lls,  as  they  had  nothing  in  common, 
and  could  not  live  together,  but  were  engaged  in 
unceasing  warfare,  and  that  an  indissoluble  law 
might  be  laid  down,  for  their  future  protection. 
Jupiter  granted  their  request,  and  decreed  that 
henceforth  the  Ills  should  visit  the  earth  in  company 
with  each  other,  but  that  the  Goods  should  one  by 
one  enter  the  habitations  of  men.  Hence  it  arises 
that  I Us  abound,  for  they  come  not  one  by  one,  but 
in  troops,  and  by  no  means  singly : while  the  Goods 
proceed  from  Jupiter,  and  are  given,  not  alike  to 
all,  but  singly,  and  separately;  and  one  by  one  to 
those  who  are  able  to  discern  them. 


THE  SPARROW  AND  THE  HARE. 

A Hare  pounced  upon  by  an  eagle  sobbed  very 
much,  and  uttered  cries  like  a child.  A Sparrow 
upbraided  her,  and  said,  “Where  now  is  thy  re- 
markable swiftness  of  foot?  Why  vrere  your  feet 
so  slow?”  While  the  Sparrow  was  thus  speaking,  a 
hawk  seized  him  on  a sudden,  and  killed  him.  The 
Hare  was  comforted  in  her  death,  and  expiring  said, 
“Ah!  you  who  so  lately,  when  you  supposed  your- 
self safe,  exulted  over  my  calamity,  have  now  your- 
self reason  to  deplore  a similar  misfortune.” 


THE  MAN  AND  THE  SATYR. 

A Man  and  a Satyr  once  poured  out  libations  to- 
gether in  token  of  a bond  of  alliance  being  formed 
between  them.  One  very  cold  wintry  day,  as  they 
talked  together,  the  Man  put  his  fingers  to  his  mouth 
and  blew  on  them.  On  the  Satyr  inquiring  the 
reason  of  this,  he  told  him  that  he  did  it  to  warm  his 
hands,  they  were  so  cold.  Later  on  in  the  day  they 
sat  down  to  eat,  the  food  prepared  being  quite  scald- 
ing. The  man  raised  one  of  his  dishes  a little  towards 
his  mouth  and  blew  in  it.  On  the  Satyr  again  in- 
quiring the  reason  of  this,  he  said  that  he  did  it  to 
cool  the  meat,  it  was  so  hot.  “ I can  no  longer  con- 
sider you  as  a friend,”  said  the  Satyr,  “a  fellow  who 
with  the  same  breath  blows  hot  and  cold.” 


214 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


THE  ASS  AND  HIS  PURCHASER. 

A man  wished  to  purchase  an  Ass,  and  agreed  with 
iia  owner  that  he  should  try  him  before  he  bought 
him.  He  took  the  Ass  home,  and  put  him  in  tne 
straw-yard  with  his  other  Asses,  upon  which  he  left 
all  the  others,  and  joined  himself  at  once  to  the 
most  idle  and  the  greatest  eater  of  them  all.  The 
man  put  a halter  on  him,  and  led  him  back  to  his 
owner;  and  on  his  inquiring  how,  in  so  short  a time, 
he  could  have  made  a trial  of  him,  “ I do  not  need,” 
he  answered,  “a  trial;  I know  that  he  will  be  just 
such  another  as  the  one  whom  of  all  the  rest  he 
chose  for  his  companion.” 

A man  is  known  by  the  company  he  keeps. 


THE  FLEA  AND  THE  OX. 

A Flea  thus  questioned  the  Ox:  “What  ails  you, 
that,  being  so  huge  and  strong,  you  submit  to  the 
wrongs  you  receive  from  men,  and  thus  slave  for 
them  day  by  day;  while  I,  being  so  small  a creature, 
mercilessly  feed  on  their  flesh,  and  drink  their  blood 
without  stint?”  The  Ox  replied:  “I  do  not  wish  to 
be  ungrateful;  for  I am  loved  and  well  cared  for  by 
men,  and  they  often  pat  my  head  and  shoulders.” 
“ Woe’s  me!”  said  the  Flea;  “this  very  patting  which 
you  like,  whenever  it  happens  to  me,  brings  with  it 
my  inevitable  destruction.” 


THE  DOVE  AND  THE  CROW. 

A Dove  shut  up  in  a cage  was  boasting  of  the  large 
number  of  the  young  ones  which  she  had  hatched. 
A Crow  hearing  her,  said:  “My  good  friend; cease 

from  this  unreasonable  boasting.  The  larger  the 
number  of  your  family,  the  greater  your  cause  of 
sorrow,  in  seeing  them  shut  up  in  this  prison-house.  ” 


MERCURY  AND  THE  WORKMEN. 

A Workman,  felling  wood  by  the  side  of  a river,  let 
his  axe  drop  by  accident  into  a deep  pool.  Being 
thus  deprived  of  the  means  of  his  livelihood,  he  sat 


216 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP. 


down  on  the  bank,  and  lamented  his  hard  fate. 
Mercury  appeared,  and  demanded  the  cause  of  his 
tears.  He  told  him  his  misfortune,  when  Mercury 
plunged  into  the  stream,  and,  bringing  up  a golden 
axe,  inquired  if  that  were  the  one  he  had  lost.  On 
his  saying  that  it  was  not  his.  Mercury  disappeared 
beneath  the  water  a second  time,  and  returned  with 
a silver  axe  in  his  hand,  and  again  demanded  of  the 
Workman  “if  it  were  his.”  On  the  Workman  say- 
ing it  was  not,  he  dived  into  the  pool  for  the  third 
time,  and  brought  up  the  axe  that  had  been  lost.  On 
the  Workman  claiming  it,  and  expressing  his  joy  at 
its  recovery,  Mercury,  pleased  with  his  honesty, 
gave  him  the  golden  and  the  silver  axes  in  addition 
to  his  own. 

The  Workman,  on  his  return  to  his  house,  related 
to  his  companions  all  that  had  happened.  One  of 
them  at  once  resolved  to  try  whether  he  could  not 
also  secure  the-  same  good  fortune  to  himself.  He 
ran  to  the  river,  and  threw  his  axe  on  purpose  into 
the  pool  at  the  same  place,  and  sat  down  on  the  bank 
to  weep.  Mercury  appeared  to  him  just  as  he  hoped 
he  would;  and  having  learned  the  cause  of  his  grief, 
plunged  into  the  stream,  and  brought  up  a golden 
axe,  and  inquired  if  he  had  lost  it.  The  Workman 
seized  it  greedily,  and  declared  that  of  a truth  it 
was  the  very  same  axe  that  he  had  lost.  Mercury, 
displeased  at  his  knavery,  not  only  took  away  the 
golden  axe,  but  refused  to  recover  for  him  the  axe 
he  had  thrown  into  the  pool. 


THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  JACKDAW. 

An  Eagle  flying  down  from  his  eyrie,  on  a lofty 
rock,  seized  upon  a lamb,  and  carried  him  aloft  on 
his  talons.  A Jackdaw,  who  witnessed  the  capture 
of  the  lamb,  was  stirred  with  envy,  and  determined 
to  emulate  the  strength  and  flight  of  the  Eagle.  He 
flew  round  with  a great  whirr  of  his  wings,  and 
settled  upon  a large  ram,  with  the  intention  of  carry- 
ing him  off,  but  his  claws  becoming  entangled  in  his 
fleece  he  was  not  able  to  release  himself,  although 
he  fluttered  with  his  feathers  as  much  as  he  could. 
The  shepherd,  seeing  what  had  happened,  ran  up 


218 


THE  FABLES  OF  A5S0P. 


and  caught  him.  He  at  once  clipped  his  wings,  and 
taking  him  home  at  night,  gave  him  to  his  children. 
On  their  saying,  “Father,  what  kind  of  bird  is  it?” 
he  replied,  “To  my  certain  knowledge  he  is  a Daw; 
but  he  will  have  it  that  lie  is  an  Eagle.” 


JUPITER,  NEPTUNE,  MINERVA,  AND  MOMUS. 

According  to  an  ancient  legend,  the  first  man  was 
made  by  Jupiter,  the  first  bull  by  Neptune,  and  the 
first  house  by  Minerva.  On  the  completion  of  their 
labors,  a dispute  arose  as  to  which  had  made  the 
most  perfect  work.  They  agreed  to  appoint  Momus 
as  judge,  and  to  abide  by  his  decision.  Momus,  how- 
ever, being  very  envious  of  the  handicraft  of  each, 
found  fault  with  all.  He  first  blamed  the  work  of 
Neptune,  because  he  had  not  made  the  horns  of  the 
bull  below  his  eyes,  that  he  might  better  see  where 
to  strike.  He  then  condemned  the  work  of  Jupiter, 
because  he  had  not  placed  the  heart  of  man  on  the 
outside,  that  every  one  might  read  the  thoughts  of 
the  evil  disposed,  and  take  precautions  against  the 
intended  mischief.  And,  lastly,  he  inveighed  against 
Minerva,  because  she  had  not  contrived  iron  wheels 
in  the  foundation  of  her  house,  that  its  inhabitants 
might  more  easily  remove  if  a neighbor  should  prove 
unpleasant.  Jupiter,  indignant  at  such  inveterate 
fault-finding,  drove  him  from  his  office  of  judge, 
and  expelled  him  from  the  mansions  of  Olympus. 


. 220 


THE  FABLES  OF  ACSOP. 


wood  and  there  produced  her  young.  Not  long  after 
they  had  agreed  upon  this  plan,  when  the  Fox  was 
ranging  for  food,  the  Eagle  being  in  want  of  pro- 
vision for  her  young  ones,  swooped  down  and  seized 
upon  one  of  the  little  cubs,  and  feasted  herself  and 
brood.  The  Fox  on  her  return,  discovering  what 
had  happened,  was  less  grieved  for  the  death  of  her 
young  than  for  her  inability  to  avenge  them.  A just 
retribution,  however,  quickly  fell  upon  the  Eagle. 
While  hovering  near  an  altar,  on  which  some 
villagers  were  sacrificing  a goat,  she  suddenly  seized 
a piece  of  the  flesh,  and  carried  with  it  to  her  nest  a 
burning  cinder.  A strong  breeze  soon  fanned  the 
spark  into  a flame,  and  the  eaglets,  as  yet  unfledged 
and  helpless,  were  roasted  in  their  nest  and  dropped 
down  dead  at  the  bottom  of  the  tree.  The  Fox  gob- 
bled them  up  in  the  sight  of  the  Eagle. 


THE  TWO  BAGS. 

Every  man,  according  to  an  ancient  legend,  is  born 
into  the  world  with  two  bags  suspended  from  his 
neck — a small  bag  in  front  full  of  his  neighbors’ 
faults,  and  a large  bag  behind  filled  with  his  own 
faults.  Hence  it  is  that  men  are  quick  to  see  the 
faults  of  others,  and  yet  are  often  blind  to  their  own 
failings. 


THE  STAG  AT  THE  POOL. 

A Stag  overpowered  by  heat  came  to  a spring  to 
drink.  Seeing  Ids  own  shadow  reflected  in  the  water, 
he  greatly  admired  the  size  and  variety  of  his  horns, 
but  felt  angry  with  himself  for  having  such  slender 
and  weak  feet.  While  he  was  thus  contemplating 
himself,  a Lion  appeared  at  the  pool  and  crouched 
to  spring  upon  him.  The  Stag  immediately  betook 
himself  to  flight:  and  exerting  his  utmost  speed,  as 
long  as  the  plain  was  smooth  and  open,  kept  himself 
with  ease  at  a safe  distance  from  the  Lion.  But 
entering  a wood  he  became  entangled  by  his  horns: 
and  the  Lion  quickly  came  up  with  him  and  caught 


222 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


him.  When  too  late  he  thus  reproached  himself: 
“Woe  is  me!  How  have  I deceived  myself!  These 
feet  which  would  have  saved  me  I despised,  and  I 
gloried  in  these  antlers  which  have  proved  my 
destruction.” 


What  is  most  truly  valuable  is  often  underrated. 


THE  BITCH  AND  HER  WHELPS. 

A Bitch  ready  to  whelp,  earnestly  begged  of  a 
shepherd  a place  where  she  might  litter.  On  her 
request  being  granted,  she  again  besought  per- 
mission to  rear  her  puppies  in  the  same  spot.  The 
shepherd  again  consented.  But  at  last  the  Bitch, 
protected  with  the  body-guard  of  her  Whelps,  who 
had  now  grown  up,  and  were  able  to  defend  them- 
selves, asserted  her  exclusive  right  to  the  place,  and 
yrould  not  permit  the  shepherd  to  approach. 


THE  DOGS  AND  THE  HIDES. 

Some  Dogs,  famished  with  hunger,  saw  some  cow 
hides  steeping  in  a river.  Not  being  able  to  reach 
them,  they  agreed  to  drink  up  the  river:  but  it  fell 
out  that  they  burst  themselves  with  drinking  long 
before  they  reached  the  hides. 

Attempt  not  impossibilities. 


THE  JACKDAW  AND  THE  FOX. 

A half-famished  Jackdaw  seated  himself  on  a fig- 
tree,  which  had  produced  some  fruit  entirely  out  of 
season,  and  waited  in  the  hope  that  the  figs  would 


224 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


ripen.  A Fox  seeing  him  sitting  so  long,  and  learn- 
ing the  reason  of  his  doing  so,  said  to  him,  “You 
are  indeed,  sir,  sadly  deceiving  yourself;  you  are  in- 
dulging a hope  strong  enough  to  cheat  you,  but 
which  will  never  reward  you  with  enjoyment.” 


THE  LARK  BURYING  ITS  FATHER. 

The  Lark  (according  to  an  ancient  legend)  was 
created  before  the  earth  itself:  and  when  her  father 
died  by  a fell  disease,  as  there  was  no  earth,  she 
could  find  for  him  no  place  of  burial.  She  let  him 
lie  uninterred  for  five  days,  and  on  the  sixth  day, 
being  in  perplexity,  she  buried  him  in  her  own  head. 
Hence  she  obtained  her  crest,  which  is  popularly 
said  to  be  her  father’s  grave-hillock. 

Youth’s  first  duty  is  reverence  to  parents. 


THE  GNAT  AND  THE  BULL. 

A Gnat  settled  on  the  horn  of  a Bull,  and  sat  there 
a long  time.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  fly  off,  he 
made  a buzzing  noise,  and  inquired  of  the  Bull  if  he 
would  like  him  to  go.  The  Bull  replied,  “ I did  not 
know  you  had  come,  and  I shall  not  miss  you  when 
you  go  away.” 

Some  men  are  of  more  consequence  in  their  own 
eyes  than  in  the  eyes  of  their  neighbors. 


THE  MONKEY  AND  THE  CAMEL. 

Thh  beasts  of  the  forest  gave  a splendid  entertain- 
ment at  which  the  Monkey  stood  up  and  daneed. 
Having  vastly  delighted  the  assembly,  he  sat  down 
amidst  universal  applause.  The  Camel,  envious  of  the 
praises  bestowed  on  the  Monkey,  and  desirous  to  di- 
vert to  himself  the  favor  of  the  guests,  proposed  to 
stand  up  in  his  turn,  and  dance  for  their  amusement. 
He  moved  about  in  so  utterly  ridiculous  a manner, 
that  the  Beasts  in  a fit  of  indignation  set  upon  him 
with  clubs,  and  drove  him  out  of  the  assembly. 

It  is  absurd  to  ape  our  betters. 


226 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP. 


THE  SHEPHERD  AND  THE  SHEEP. 

A Shepherd  driving  his  Sheep  to  a wood,  saw  an 
oak  of  unusual  size,  full  of  acorns,  and,  spreading 
h'is  cloak  under  the  branches,  he  climbed  up  into  the 
tree,  and  shook  down  the  acorns.  The  Sheep  eating 
the  acorns,  inadvertently  frayed  and  tore  the  cloak. 
The  Shepherd  coming  down,  and  seeing  what  was 
done,  said,  “O  you  most  ungrateful  creatures!  you 
provide  wool  to  make  garments  for  all  .other  men, 
but  you  destroy  the  clothes  of  him  who  feeds  you.” 


THE  PEASANT  AND  THE  APPLE-TREE. 

A Peasant  had  in  his  garden  an  Apple-tree,  which 
bore  no  fruit,  but  only  served  as  a harbor  for  the 
sparrows  and  grasshoppers.  He  resolved  to  cut  it 
down,  and,  taking  his  axe  in  his  hand,  made  a bold 
stroke  at  its  roots.  The  grasshoppers  and  sparrows 
entreated  him  not  to  cut  down  the  tree  that  sheltered 
them,  but  to  spare  it,  and  they  would  sing  to  him 
and  listen  to  his  labors.  He  paid  no  attention  to 
their  request,  but  gave  the  tree  a second  and  a third 
blow  with  his  axe:  when  he  reached  the  hollow  of 
the  tree,  he  found  a hive  full  of  honey.  Having 
tasted  the  honeycomb,  he  threw  down  his  axe,  and, 
looking  on  the  tree  as  sacred  took  great  care  of  it. 

Self  interest  alone  moves  some  men. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


227 


THE  TWO  SOLDIERS  AND  THE  ROBBER. 

Two  Soldiers  travelling  together,  were  set  upon  by 
a Robber.  The  one  fled  away;  the  other  stood  his 
ground,  and  defended  himself  with  his  stout  right 
hand.  The  Robber  being  slain,  the  timid  companion 
runs  up  and  draws  his  sword,  and  then,  throwing 
back  his  travelling  cloak,  says,  “ I'll  at  him,  and  I’ll 
take  care  he  shall  learn  whom  he  has  attacked.”  On 
this  he  who  had  fought  with  the  Robber  made 
answer,  “ I only  wish  that  you  had  helped  me  just 
now,  even  if  it  had  been  only  with  those  words,  for 
I should  have  been  the  more  encouraged,  believing 
them  to  be  true;  but  now  put  up  your  sword  in  its 
sheath  and  hold  your  equally  useless  tongue,  till  you 
can  deceive  others  who  do  not  know  you.  I,  indeed, 
who  have  experienced  with  what  speed  you  ran 
away,  know  right  well  that  no  dependence  can  be 
placed  on  your  valor.” 


THE  TREES  UNDER  THE  PROTECTION  OF 
THE  GODS. 

The  Gods,  according  to  an  ancient  legend,  made 
choice  of  certain  trees  to  be  under  their  special  pro- 
tection. Jupiter  chose  the  oak,  Venus  the  myrtle, 
Apollo  the  laurel,  Cybele  the  pine,  and  Hercules  the 
poplar.  Minerva,  wondering  why  they  had  pre- 
ferred trees  not  yielding  fruit,  inquired  the  reason 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP. 


228 

of  their  choice.  Jupiter  replied,  “It  is  lest  we  should 
seem  to  covet  the  honor  for  the  fruit.”  But  said 
Minerva,  “ Let  any  one  say  what  he  will,  the  olive 
is  more  dear  to  me  on  account  of  its  fruit.”  Then 
said  Jupiter,  “My  daughter,  you  are  rightly  called 
wise;  for  unless  what  we  do  is  useful,  the  glory  of 
it  is  vain.” 


TRUTH  AND  THE  TRAVELLER. 

A wayfaring  Man,  travelling  in  the  desert,  met  a 
woman  standing  alone  and  terribly  dejected.  He 
inquired  of  her,  “Who  art  thou?”  “My  name  is 
Truth,”  she  replied.  “And  for  what  cause,”  he 
asked,  “have  you  left  the  city,  to  dwell  alone  here 
in  the  wilderness?”  She  made  answer,  “Because  in 
former  times,  falsehood  was  with  few,  but  is  now 
with  all  men,  whether  you  would  hear  or  speak.” 


THE  MANSLAYER. 

A Man  committed  a murder,  and  was  pursued  by  the 
relations  of  the  man  whom  he  murdered.  On  his 
reaching  the  river  Nile  he  saw  a Lion  on  its  bank, 
and  being  fearfully  afraid,  climbed  up  a tree.  He 
found  a serpent  in  the  upper  branches  of  the  tree, 
and  again  being  greatly  alarmed  he  threw  himself 
into  the  river,  when  a crocodile  caught  him  and  ate 
him.  Thus  the  earth,  the  air,  and  the  water,  alike 
w'ifused  shelter  to  a murderer. 


THE  LION  AND  THE  FOX. 

A Fox  entered  into  partnership  with  a Lion,  on  the 
pretence  of  becoming  his  servant.  Each  undertook 
his  proper  duty  in  accordance  with  his  own  nature 
and  powers.  The  Fox  discovered  and  pointed  out 
the  prey,  the  Lion  sprung  on  it,  and  seized  it.  The 
Fox  soon  became  jealous  of  the  Lion  carrying  off  the 
Lion’s  share,  and  said  that  he  would  no  longer  find 
out  the  prey,  but  would  capture  it  on  his  own  account. 
The  next  day  he  attempted  to  snatch  a lamb  from 
the  fold,  but  fell  himself  a prey  to  the  huntsmen  and 
hounds. 


230 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  LION  AND  THE  EAGLE. 

An  Eagle  stayed  his  flight,  and  entreated  a Lion  to 
make  an  alliance  with  him  to  their  mutual  advan  - 
tage. The  Lion  replied,  “I  have  no  objection,  but 
you  must  excuse  me  for  requiring  you  to  find  surety 
for  your  good  faith;  for  how  can  I trust  any  one  as  a 
friend,  who  is  able  to  fly  away  from  his  bargain 
whenever  he  pleases?” 

Try  before  you  trust. 


THE  HEN  AND  THE  SWALLOW. 

A Hen  finding  the  eggs  of  a viper,  and  carefully 
keeping  them  warm,  nourished  them  into  life.  A 
Swallow  observing  what  she  had  done,  said,  “You 
silly  creature!  why  have  you  hatched  these  vipers, 
which,  when  they  shall  have  grown,  will  inflict  in- 
jury on  all,  beginning  with  yourself?” 


THE  FLEA  AND  THE  WRESTLER. 

A Flea  settled  upon  the  bare  foot  of  a W restler,  and 
bit  him;  on  which  he  called  loudly  upon  Hercules 
for  help.  The  Flea  a second  time  hopped  upon  his 
foot,  when  he  groaned  and  said,  “O  Hercules!  if 
you  will  not  help  me  against  a Flea,  how  can  I hope 
for  your  assistance  against  greater  antagonists?” 


THE  ASS  AND  HIS  DRIVER. 

An  Ass  being  driven  along  the  high  road,  suddenly 
started  off,  and  bolted  to  the  brink  of  a deep  preci- 
pice. When  he  was  in  the  act  of  throwing  himself 
over,  his  owner,  seizing  him  by  the  tail,  endeavored 
to  pull  him  back.  The  Ass,  persisting  in  his  effort, 
the  man  let  him  go  and  said,  “Conquer:  but  conquer 
to  your  cost.” 


THE  THRUSH  AND  THE  FOWLER. 

A Thrush  was  feeding  on  a myrtle-tree,  and  did  not 
move  from  it,  on  account  of  the  deliciousness  of  its 
berries,  A Fowler  observing  her  staying  so  long  in 
one  spot,  having  well  birdlimed  his  reeds,  caught 


232 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


her.  The  Thrush,  being  at  the  point  of  death,  ex- 
claimed, “ O foolish  creature  that  I am!  For  the 
sake  of  a little  pleasant  food  I have  deprived  myself 
of  my  life.” 

THE  ROSE  AND  THE  AMARANTH. 

An  Amaranth  planted  in  a garden  near  a Rose-tree, 
thus  addressed  it:  “What  a lovely  flower  is  the  Rose, 
a favorite  alike  with  Oods  and  with  men.  I envy 
you  your  beauty  and  your  perfume.  ” The  Rose  re- 
plied, “I  indeed,  dear  Amaranth,  flourish  but  for  a 
brief  season!  If  no  cruel  hand  pluck  me  from  my 
stem,  yet  I must  perish  by  an  early  doom.  But  thou 
art  immortal,  and  dost  never  fade,  but  bloomest  for 
ever  in  renewed  youth.” 


THE  TRAVELLERS  AND  THE  PLANE-TREE. 
Two  Travellers,  worn  out  by  the  heat  of  the  sum- 
mer’s sun,  laid  themselves  down  at  noon  under  the 
wide-spreading  branches  of  a Plane-tree.  As  they 
rested  under  its  shade,  one  of  the  Travellers  said  to 
the  other,  “What  a singularly  useless  tree  is  the 
Plane!  It  bears  no  fruit,  and  is  not  of  the  least  ser- 
vice to  man.”  The  Plane-tree,  interrupting  him, 
said,  “You  ungrateful  fellows!  Do  you,  while  re- 
ceiving benefits  from  me,  and  resting  under  my 
shade,  dare  to  describe  me  as  useless,  and  unprofit- 
able?” 

Some  men  despise  their  best  blessings. 


THE  MOTHER 

AND 

THE  WOLF. 

A FAMISHED  Wolf  Was 
prowling  about  in  the 
morning  in  search  of  - 
food.  As  he  passed 
the  door  of  a cottage 
built  in  the  forest,  he 
heard  a Mother  say  to 
her  child,  “Be  quiet, 
or  I will  throw  you 
out  of  the  window, 
and  the  Wolf  shall  eat 
you.”  The  Wolf  sat 
all  day  waiting  at  the 
door.  In  the  evening 
he  heard  the  same 
woman,  fondling  her  child  and  saying: 

“ He  is  quiet  now,  and  if  the  Wolf  should 
com£,  we  will  kill  him.”  The  Wolf, 
hearing  these  words,  went  home,  gaping 


234  THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 

with  cold  and  hunger.  On  his  reaching  his  den. 
Mistress  Wolf  inquired  of  him  why  he  returned 
wearied  and  supperless,  so  contrary  to  his  wont. 
He  replied:  “Why,  forsooth! — because  I gave  cred- 
ence to  the  words  of  a woman!” 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  HORSE. 

An  Ass  besought  a Horse  to  spare  him  a small  por- 
tion of  his  feed.  “Yes,”  said  he;  “if  any  remains 
out  of  what  I am  now  eating  I will  give  it  to  you,  for 
the  sake  of  my  own  superior  dignity;  and  if  you  will 
come  when  I shall  reach  my  own  stall  in  the  even- 
ing, I will  give  you  a little  sack  full  of  barley.”  The 
Ass  replied:  “ Thank  you.  I can't  think  that  you, 
who  refuse  me  a little  matter  now,  will  by  and  by 
confer  on  me  a greater  benefit.” 


THE  CROW  AND  THE  SHEEP. 

A tboublesome  Crow  seated  herself  on  the  back  of 
a Sheep.  The  Sheep,  much  against  his  will,  carried 
her  backward  and  forward  for  a long  time,  and  at 
last  said,  “ If  you  had  treated  a dog  in  this  way,  you 
would  have  had  your  deserts  from  his  sharp  teeth.” 
To  this  the  Crow  replied,  “ I despise  the  weak,  and 
yield  to  the  strong.  I know  whom  I may  bully,  and 
whom  I must  flatter;  and  I thus  prolong  my  life  to  a 
good  old  age.” 


THE  PARTRIDGE  AND  THE  FOWLER. 

A.  Fowler  caught  a Partridge,  and  was  about  to  kill 
it.  The  Partridge  earnestly  besought  him  to  spare 
his  life,  saying,  “ Pray,  master,  permit  me  to  live, 
and  I will  entice  many  Partridges  to  you  in  recom- 
pense for  your  mercy  to  me.”  The  Fowler  replied, 
“I  shall  now  with  the  less  scruple  take  your  life: 
because  you  are  willing  to  save  it  at  the  cost  of  be- 
traying your  friends  and  relations.” 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  BRAMBLE. 

A Fox,  mounting  a hedge,  when  he  was  about  to 
fall  caught  hold  of  a Bramble.  Having  pricked  and 
grievously  torn  the  soles  of  his  feet,  he  accused  the 
Bramble,  because,  when  he  had  fled  to  her  for  assist- 


236 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


ance,  she  had  used  him  worse  than  the  hedge  itself. 
The  Bramble,  interrupting  him,  said,  “But  you  really 
must  have  been  out  of  your  senses  to  fasten  yourself 
on  me,  who  am  myself  always  accustomed  to  fasten 
upon  others.” 


THE  DOG  AND  THE  OYSTER. 

A Dog,  used  to  eating  eggs,  saw  an  Oyster;  and 
opening  his  mouth  to  its  widest  extent,  swallowed  it 
down  with  the  utmost  relish,  supposing  it  to  be  an 
egg.  Soon  afterwards  suffering  great  pain  in  his 
stomach,  he  said,  “I  deserve  all  this  torment,  for 
my  folly  in  thinking  that  every  thing  round  must  be 
an  egg.” 

They  who  act  without  sufficient  thought,  will  often 
fall  into  unsuspected  danger. 


THE  FLEA  AND  THE  MAN. 

A Man,  very  much  annoyed  with  a Flea,  caught  him 
at  last,  and  said,  “Who  are  you  who  dare  to  feed  on 
my  limbs,  and  to  cost  me  so  much  trouble  in  catch- 
ing you?”  The  Flea  replied,  “O  my  dear  sir,  pray 
spare  my  life,  and  destroy  me  not,  for  I cannot  pos- 
sibly do  you  much  harm.”  The  Man,  laughing,  re- 
plied, “Now  you  shall  certainly  die  by  mine  own 
hands,  for  no  evil,  whether  it  be  small  or  large, 
ought  to  be  tolerated.” 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  CHARGER. 

An  Ass  congratulated  a Horse  on  being  so  ungrudg- 
ingly and  carefully  provided  for,  while  he  himself 
had  scarcely  enough  to  eat,  nor  even  that  without 
hard  work.  But  when  war  broke  out,  and  the  heavy 
armed  soldier  mouted  the  Horse,  and  riding  him  to 
the  charge,  rushed  into  the  very  midst  of  the  enemy, 
and  the  Horse,  being  wounded,  fell  dead  on  the 
battle-field;  then  the  Ass,  seeing  all  these  things, 
changed  his  mind,  and  commiserated  the  Horse. 


238 


THE  FABLES  OF  AISOP. 


THE  LION,  JUPITER,  AND  THE  ELEPHANT. 
The  Lion  wearied  Jupiter  with  his  frequent  com- 
plaints. “ It  is  true,”  he  said,  “ O Jupiter!  that  I am 
gigantic  in  strength,  handsome  in  shape,  and  power- 
ful in  attack.  I have  jaws  well  provided  with  teeth, 
and  feet  furnished  with  claws,  and  I lord  it  over  all 
the  beasts  of  the  forest;  and  what  a disgrace  it  is, 
that  being  such  as  I am,  I should  be  frightened  by 
the  crowing  of  a cock.”  Jupiter  replied,  “Why  do 
you  blame  me  without  a cause?  I have  given  you 
all  the  attributes  which  I possess  myself,  and  your 
courage  never  fails  you  except  in  this  one  instance.” 
On  this  the  Lion  groaned  and  lamented  very  much, 
and  reproached  himself  with  his  cowardice,  and 
wished  that  he  might  die.  As  these  thoughts  passed 
through  his  mind,  he  met  an  Elephant,  and  came 
near  to  hold  a conversation  with  him.  After  a time 
he  observed  that  the  Elephant  shook  his  ears  very 
often,  and  he  inquired  what  was  the  matter,  and 
why  his  ears  moved  with  such  a tremor  every  now 
and  then.  Just  at  that  moment  a Gnat  settled  on 
the  head  of  the  Elephant,  and  he  replied,  “Do  you 
see  that  little  buzzing  insect?  If  it  enters  my  ear, 
my  fate  is  sealed.  I should  die  presently.”  The 
Lion  said,  “Well,  since  so  huge  a beast  is  afraid  of 
a tiny  gnat,  I will  no  more  complain,  nor  wish  my- 
self dead.  I find  myself,  even  as  I am,  better  off 
than  the  Elephant,  in  that  very  same  degree,  that  a 
Cock  is  greater  than  a Gnat,” 


THE  LAMB  AND  THE  WOLF. 

A Wolf  pursued  a Lamb,  which  fled  for  refuge  to  a 
certain  Temple.  The  Wolf  called  out  to  him  and 
said,  “The  Priest  will  slay  you  in  sacrifice,  if  lie 
should  catch  you,”  on  which  the  Lamb  replied,  “It 
would  be  better  for  me  to  be  sacrificed  in  the  Tem- 
ple, than  to  be  eaten  by  you.” 


340 


THE  FABLES  OF  .4580?. 


THE  RICH  MAH  AND  THE  TANNER. 

A kich  man  lived  near  a Tanner,  and  not  being  able 
to  bear  the  unpleasant  smell  of  the  tan-yard,  he 
pressed  his  neighbor  to  go  away.  The  Tanner  put 
off  his  departure  from  time  to  time,  saying  that  he 
would  remove  soon.  But  as  he  still  continued  to 
stay,  it  came  to  pass,  as  time  went  on,  the  rich  man 
became  accustomed  to  the  smell,  and  feeling  no 
manner  of  inconvenience,  made  no  further  com- 
plaints. 


THE  MULES  AND  THE  ROBBERS. 

Two  Mules  well  laden  with  packs  were  trudging 
along.  One  carried  panniers  filled  with  money,  the 
other  sacks  weighted  with  grain.  The  Mule  carry- 
ing the  treasure  walked  with  head  erect,  as  if  con- 
scious of  the  value  of  his  burden,  and  tossed  up  and 
down  the  clear  toned  bells  fastened  to  his  neck.  His 
companion  followed  with  quiet  and  easy  step.  All 
on  a sudden  Robbers  rushed  from  their  hiding-places 
upon  them,  and  in  the  scuffle  with  their  owners, 
wounded  with  a sword  the  Mule  carrying  the  treas- 
ure, which  they  greedily  seized  upon,  while  they 
took  no  notice  of  the  grain.  The  Mule  which  had 
been  robbed  and  wounded,  bewailed  his  misfortunes. 
The  other  replied,  “I  am  indeed  glad  that  I was 
thought  so  little  of,  for  I have  lost  nothing,  nor  am 
I hurt  with  any  wound.” 


THE  VIPER  AND  THE  FILE. 

A Viper  entering  the  workshop  of  a smith,  sought 
from  the  tools  the  means  of  satisfying  his  hunger. 
He  more  particularly  addressed  himself  to  a File, 
and  asked  of  him  the  favor  of  a meal.  The  File  re- 
plied, ‘‘You  must  indeed  be  a simple-minded  fellow 
if  you  expect  to  get  anything  from  me,  who  am 
accustomed  to  take  from  every  one,  and  never  to 
give  anything  in  return.” 

The  covetous  are  poor  givers, 


242 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


THE  LION  AND  THE  SHEPHERD. 

A Lion,  roaming  through  a forest,  trod  upon  a thorn, 
and  soon  after  came  up  towards  a Shepherd,  and 
fawned  upon  him,  wagging  his  tail,  as  if  he  would 
say,  “I  am  a suppliant,  and  seek  your  aid.”  The 
Shepherd  boldly  examined,  and  discovered  the  thorn, 
and  placing  his  foot  upon  his  lap,  pulled  it  out  and 
relieved  the  Lion  of  his  pain,  who  returned  into  the 
forest.  Some  time  after,  the  Shepherd  being  im- 
prisoned on  a false  accusation,  is  condemned  “to  be 
cast  to  the  Lions,”  as  the  punishment  of  his  imputed 
crime.  The  Lion,  on  being  released  from  his  cage, 
recognizes  the  Shepherd  as  the  man  who  healed  him, 
and,  instead  of  attacking  hiih,  approaches  and  places 
his  foot  upon  his  lap.  The  King,  as  soon  as  he  heard 
the  tale,  ordered  the  Lion  to  be  set  free  again  in  the 
forest,  and  the  Shepherd  to  be  pardoned  and  restored 
to  his  friends. 


THE  CAMEL  AND  JUPITER. 

The  Camel,  when  he  saw  the  Bull  adorned  with 
horns,  envied  him,  and  wished  that  he  himself  could 
obtain  the  same  honors.  He  went  to  Jupiter,  and 
besought  him  to  give  him  horns.  Jupiter,  vexed  at 
his  request,  because  he  was  not  satisfied  with  his 
size  and  strength  of  body,  and  desired  yet  more,  not 
only  refused  to  give  him  horns,  but  even  deprived 
him  of  a portion  of  his  ears. 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


243 


THE  PANTHER  AND  THE  SHEPHERDS. 

A Panther,  by  some  mischance,  fell  into  a pit.  The 
Shepherds  discovered  him,  and  threw  sticks  at  him, 
and  pelted  him  with  stones,  while  some  of  them, 
moved  with  compassion  towards  one  about  to  die 
even  though  no  one  should  hurt  him,  threw  in  some 
food  to  prolong  his  life.  At  night  they  returned 
home,  not  dreaming  of  any  danger,  but  supposing 
that  on  the  morrow  they  should  find  him  dead.  The 
Panther,  however,  when  he  had  recruited  his  feeble 
strength,  freed  himself  with  a sudden  bound  from 
the  pit,  and  hastened  home  with  rapid  steps  to  his 
den.  After  a few  days  he  came  forth  and  slaugh- 
tered the  cattle,  and,  killing  the  Shepherds  who  had 
attacked  him,  raged  with  angry  fury.  Then  they  who 
had  spared  his  life,  fearing  for  their  safety,  surrender- 
ed to  him  their  flocks,  and  begged  only  for  their  lives; 
to  whom  the  Panther  made  this  reply:  " I remember 
alike  those  who  sought  my  life  with  stones,  and  those 
who  gave  me  food — lay  aside,  therefore,  your  fears. 
I return  as  an  enemy  only  to  those  who  injured  me.” 


THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  KITE. 

An  Eagle,  overwhelmed  with  sorrow,  sat  upon  the 
branches  of  a tree,  in  company  with  a Kite.  “Why,” 
said  the  Kite,  “do  I see  you  with  such  a rueful 
look?”  “I  seek,”  she  replied,  “for  a mate  suitable 
for  me,  and  am  not  able  to  find  one.”  “Take  me,” 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


244 

returned  the  Kite,  “I  am  much  stronger  than  you 
are.”  “Why,  are  you  able  to  secure  the  means  of 
living  by  your  plunder?”  “Well,  I have  often  caught 
and  carried  away  an  ostrich  in  my  talons.”  The 
Eagle,  persuaded  by  these  words  accepted  him  as 
her  mate.  Shortly  after  the  nuptials  the  Eagle  said, 
“Fly  off.  and  bring  me  back  the  ostrich  you  prom- 
ised me.”  The  Kite,  soaring  aloft  into  the  air, 
brought  back  the  shabbiest  possible  mouse,  and 
stinking  from  the  length  of  time  it  had  lain  about 
the  fields.  “Is  this,”  said  the  Eagle,  “the  faithful 
fulfilment  of  your  promise  to  me?”  The  Kite  replied, 
“That  I might  attain  to  your  royal  hand,  there  is 
nothing  that  I would  not  have  promised,  however 
much  I knew  that  I must  fail  in  the  performance.” 


THE  EAGLE  AND  HIS  CAPTOR 

An  Eagle  was  once  captured  by  a man,  who  at  once 
clipped  his  wings,  and  put  him  into  his  poultry  yard 
with  the  other  birds;  at  which  treatment  the  Eagle 
was  weighed  down  with  grief.  Another  neighbor 
having  purchased  him,  suffered  his  feathers  to  grow 
again.  The  Eagle  took  flight,  and  pouncing  upon  a 
hare  brought  it  at  once  as  an  offering  to  his  bene- 
factor. A Fox,  seeing  this,  exclaimed,  “Do  not 
propitiate  the  favor  of  this  man,  but  of  your  former 
owner,  lest  he  should  again  hunt  for  you,  and  de- 
prive you  a second  time  of  your  wings.” 


THE  KING’S  SON  AND  THE  PAINTED  LION. 

A King  who  had  one  only  son,  fond  of  martial  exer- 
cises, had  a dream  in  which  he  was  warned  that  his 
son  would  be  killed  by  a lion.  Afraid  lest  the  dream 
should  prove  true,  he  built  for  his  son  a pleasant 
palace,  and  adorned  its  walls  for  his  amusement 
with  all  kinds  of  animals  of  the  size  of  life,  among 
which  was  the  picture  of  a lion.  When  the  young 
Prince  saw  this, . his  grief  at  being  thus  confined 
burst  out  afresh,  and  standing  near  the  lion,  he  thus 
spoke:  “ O you  most  detestable  of  animals!  through 
a lying  dream  of  my  father’s,  which  he  saw  in  his 
sleep,  I am  shut  up  on  your  account  in  this  palace  as 


246 


THE  FABLES  OF  A2SOP. 


if  I had  been  a girl:  what  shall  I now  do  to  you?” 
With  these  words  he  stretched  out  his  hands  toward 
a thorn-tree,  meaning  to  cut  a stick  from  its  branches 
that  he  might  beat  the  lion,  when  one  of  its  sharp 
prickles  pierced  his  huger,  and  caused  great  pain 
and  inflammation,  so  that  the  young  Prince  fell 
down  in  a fainting  fit.  A violent  fever  suddenly  set 
in,  from  which  he  died  not  many  days  after. 

We  had  better  bear  our  troubles  bravely  than  try 
to  escape  them. 


THE  CAT  AND  VENUS. 

A Cat  fell  in  love  with  a handsome  young  man,  and 
entreated  Venus  that  she  would  change  her  into  the 
form  of  a woman.  Venus  consented  to  her  request, 
and  transformed  her  into  a beautiful  damsel,  so  that 
the  youth  saw  her,  and  loved  her,  and  took  her  home 
as  his  bride.  While  they  were  reclining  in  their 
chamber,  Venus,  wishing  to  discover  if  the  Cat  in 
her  change  of  shape  had  also  altered  her  habits  of 
life,  let  down  a mouse  in  the  middle  of  the  room. 
She,  quite  forgetting  her  present  condition,  started 
up  from  the  couch,  and  pursued  the  mouse,  wishing 
to  eat  it.  Venus,  much  disappointed,  again  caused 
her  to  return  to  her  former  shape. 

Nature  exceeds  nurture. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP, 


24? 


THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  BEETLE. 

The  Eagle  and  the  Beetle  were  at  enmity  together, 
and  they  destroyed  one  another’s  nests.  The  Eagle 
gave  the  first  provocation  in  seizing  upon,  and  in 
eating  the  young  ones  of  the  Beetle.  The  Beetle 
got  by  stealth  at  the  Eagle’s  eggs,  and  rolled  them 
out  of  the  nest,  and  followed  the  Eagle  even  into  the 
presence  of  Jupiter.  On  the  Eagle  making  his  com- 
plaint, Jupiter  ordered  him  to  make  his  nest  in  his 
lap;  and  while  Jupiter  had  the  eggs  in  his  lap,  the 
Beetle  came  flying  about  him,  and  Jupiter  rising  up 
unawares,  to  drive  him  away  from  his  head,  threw 
down  the  eggs,  and  broke  them. 

The  weak  often  revenge  themselves  on  those  who 
use  them  ill,  even  though  they  be  the  more  powerful. 


THE  SHE-GOATS  AND  THEIR  BEARDS. 

The  She-goats  having  obtained  by  request  from 
Jupiter  the  favor  of  a beard,  the  He-goats,  sorely 
displeased,  made  complaint  that  the  females  equalled 
them  in  dignity.  “Suffer  them,”  said  Jupiter,  “to 
enjoy  an  empty  honor,  and  to  assume  the  badge  of 
your  noble  sex,  so  long  as  they  are  not  your  equals 
in  strength  or  courage.” 

It  matters  little  if  those  who  are  inferior  to  us"  in 
merit  should  be  like  us  in  outside  appearances. 


248 


THE  FABLES  OF  45SOP. 


THE  BALD  MAN  AND  THE  FLY. 

A Fly  bit  the  bare  head  of  a Bald  Man,  who  endea- 
voring to  destroy  it,  gave  himself  a heavy  slap. 
Then  said  the  Fly  mockingly,  “ You  who  have 
wished  to  revenge,  even  with  death,  the  prick  of  a 
tiny  insect,  what  will  you  do  to  yourself,  who  have 
added  insult  to  injury?”  The  Bald  Man  replied,  “I 
can  easily  make  peace  with  myself,  because  I know 
there  was  no  intention  to  hurt.  But  you,  an  ill- 
favored  and  contemptible  insect,  who  delight  in 
sucking  human  blood,  I wish  that  I could  have  killed 
you,  even  if  I had  incurred  a heavier  penalty.” 


THE  SHIPWRECKED  MAN  AND  THE  SEA. 

m 

A Shipwrecked  Man,  having  been  cast  upon  a cer- 
tain shore,  slept  after  his  buffetings  with  the  deep. 
After  a while  waking  up,  when  he  looked  upon  the 
sea,  he  loaded  it  with  reproaches  that,  enticing  men 
with  the  calmness  of  its  looks,  when  it  had  induced 
them  to  plough  its  waters,  it  grew  rough  and  des- 
troyed them  utterly.  The  Sea,  assuming  the  form 
of  a woman,  replied  to  him:  “Blame  not  me,  my 
good  sir,  but  the  winds,  for  I am  by  my  own  nature 
as  calm  and  firm  even  as  this  earth;  but  the  winds 
falling  on  me  on  a sudden,  create  these  waves,  and 
lash  me  into  fury.” 


THE  BUFFOON  AND  THE  COUNTRYMAN. 

A rich  nobleman  once  opened  the  theatres  without 
charge  to  the  people,  and  gave  a public  notice  that  ~ 
he  would  handsomely  reward  any  person  who  should 
invent  a new  amusement  for  the  occasion.  Various 
public  performers  contended  for  the  prize.  Among 
them  came  a Buffoon  well  known  among  the  popu- 
lace for  his  jokes,  and  said  that  he  had  h kind  of 
entertainment  which  had  never  been  brought  out  on 
any  stage  before.  This  report  being  spread  about 
made  a great  stir  in  the  place,  and  the  theatre  was 
crowded  in  every  part.  The  Buffoon  appeared  alone 
upon  the  boards,  without  any  apparatus  or  confed- 


2o0 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP. 


crates,  and  the  very  sense  of  expectation  caused  an 
intense  silence.  The  Buffoon  suddenly  bent  his 
head  towards  his  bosom,  and  imitated  the  squeaking 
of  a little  pig  so  admirably  with  his  voice,  that  the 
audience  declared  that  he  had  a porker  under  his 
cloak,  and  demanded  that  it  should  be  shaken  out. 
When  that  was  done,  and  yet  nothing  was  found, 
they,  cheered  the  actor,  and  loaded  him  with  the 
loudest  applause.  A Countryman  in  the  crowd,  ob- 
serving all  that  had  passed,  said,  “So  help  me,  Her- 
cules, he  shall  not  beat  me  at  that  trick!”  and  at 
once  proclaimed  that  he  would  do  the  same  thing  on 
the  next  day,  though  in  a much  more  natural  way, 
On  the  morrow  a still  larger  crowd  assembled  in  the 
theatre;  but  now  partiality  for  their  favorite  actor 
very  generally  prevailed,  and  the  audience  came 
rather  to  ridicule  the  Countryman  than  to  see  the 
spectacle.  Both  of  the  performers,  however,  ap 
peared  on  the  stage.  The  Buffoon  grunted  ami 
squeaked  very  fast,  and  obtained,  as  on  the  preced- 
ing day,  the  applause  and  cheers  of  the  spectators. 
Next  the  Countryman  commenced,  and  pretending 
that  he  concealed  a little  pig  beneath  his  clothes 
(which  in,  truth  he  did,  but  not  suspected  of  the 
audience)  contrived  to  lay  hold  of  and  to  pull  his  ear, 
when  he  began  to  squeak,  and  to  express  in  his  pain 
the  actual  cry  of  the  pig.  The  crowd,  however, 
cried  out  with  one  consent  that  the  Buffoon  had 
given  a far  more  exact  imitation,  and  clamored  for 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP 


251 


the  Countryman  to  be  kicked  out  of  the  theatre.  On 
this  the  rustic  produced  the  little  pig  from  his  cloak, 
and  showed  by  the  most  positive  proof  the  greatness 
of  their  mistake.  “ Look  here/’  he  said,  “this  shows 
what  sort  of  judges  you  are.” 


THE  CRO^  AND  THE  SERPENT. 

A Crow,  in  great  want  of  food,  saw  a Serpent  asleep 
in  a sunny  nook,  and  flying  down,  greedily  seized 
him.  The  Serpent  turning  about,  bit  the  Crow  with 
a mortal  wound;  the  Crow  in  the  agony  of  death  ex- 
claimed. “O  unhappy  me!  who  have  found  in  that 
which  l deemed  a happy  windfall  the  source  of  my 
destruction.” 


THE  HUNTER  AND  THE  HORSEMAN. 

A certain  Hunter  having  snared  a hare,  placed  it 
upon  his  shoulders,  and  set  out  homewards.  He  met 
on  his  way  with  a man  on  horseback  who  begged 
the  hare  of  him,  under  the  pretence  of  purchasing  it. 
The  Horseman  having  got  the  hare,  rode  off  as  fast 
as  he  could.  The  Hunter  ran  after  him,  as  if  he  was 
sure  of  overtaking  him.  The  Horseman,  however, 
increasing  more  and  more  the  distance  between 
them,  the  Hunter,  sorely  against  his  will,  called  out 
to  him,  and  said,  “Get  along  with  you!  for  I will 
now  make  you  a present  of  the  hare,” 


252 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


THE  OLIYE-TREE  AND  THE  FIG-TREE. 
The  Olive-tree  ridiculed  the  Fig-tree  because,  while 
she  was  green  all  the  year  round,  the  Fig-tree 
changed  its  leaves  with  the  seasons.  A shower  of 
snow  fell  upon  them,  and,  finding  the  Olive  full  of 
foliage,  it  settled  upon  its  branches,  and,  breaking 
them  down  with  its  weight,  at  once  despoiled  it  of 
its  beauty  and  killed  the  tree;  but  finding  the  Fig- 
tree  denuded  of  leaves,  it  fell  through  to  the  ground, 
and  did  not  injure  it  at  all. 


THE  FROGS’  COMPLAINT  AGAINST  THE  SUN. 
Once  upon  a time,  when  the  Sun  announced  his 
intention  to  take  a wife,  the  Frogs  lifted  up  their 
voices  in  clamor  to  the  sky.  Jupiter,  disturbed  by 
the  noise  of  their  croaking,  inquired  the  cause  of 
their  complaint.  One  of  them  said,  “ The  Sun,  now 
while  he  is  single,  parches  up  the  marsh,  and  com- 
pels us  to  die  miserably  in  our  arid  homes;  what 
will  be  our  future  condition  if  he  should  beget  other 
suns?” 


THE  MOUSE,  THE  FROG,  AND  THE  HAWK. 

A Mouse  who  always  lived  on  the  land,  by  an  un- 
lucky chance  formed  an  intimate  acquaintance  with 
a Frog,  who  lived  for  the  most  part  in  the  water. 
The  Frog,  one  day  intent  on  mischief,  bound  the 
foot  of  the  Mouse  tightly  to  his  own.  Thus  joined 
together,  the  Frog  first  of  all  led  his  friend  the 
Mouse  to  the  meadow  where  they  were  accustomed 
to  find  their  food.  After  this,  he  gradually  led  him 
toward  the  pool  in  which  he  lived,  until  he  reached 
the  very  brink,  when  suddenly  jumping  in  he 
dragged  the  Mouse  in  with  him.  The  Frog  enjoyed 
the  water  amazingly,  and  swam  croaking  about,  as 
if  he  had  done  a meritorious  action.  The  unhappy 
Mouse  was  soon  suffocated  with  the  water,  and  his 
dead  body  floated  about  on  the  surface,  tied  to  the 
foot  of  the  Frog.  A Hawk  observed  it,  and,  pounc- 


254 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


ing  upon  it  with  his  talons,  carried  it  up  aloft.  The 
Frog  being  still  fastened  to  the  leg  of  the  Mouse, 
was  also  carried  off  a prisoner,  and  was  eaten  by 
the  Hawk. 

Harm  hatch,  harm  catch. 


THE  JETHIOP. 

The  purchaser  of  a black  servant  was  persuaded 
that  the  color  of  his  skin  arose  from  dirt  contracted 
through  the  neglect  of  his  former  masters.  On  bring- 
ing him  home  he  resorted  to  every  means  of  clean- 
ing, and  subjected  him  to  incessant  scrubbings.  He 
caught  a severe  cold,  but  he  never  changed  his 
color  or  complexion. 

What’s  bred  in  the  bone  will  stick  to  the  flesh. 


THE  FISHERMAN  AND  HIS  NETS. 

A Fisherman,  engaged  in  his  calling,  made  a very 
successful  cast,  and  captured  a great  haul  of  fish. 
He  managed  by  a skilful  handling  of  his  net  to  re- 
tain all  the  large  fish,  and  to  draw  them  to  the 
shore;  but  he  could  not  prevent  the  smaller  fish  from 
falling  back  through  the  meshes  of  the  net  into 
the  sea. 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


255 


THE  LION  AND  THE  FOUR  BULLS. 

Four  Bulls,  which  had  entered  into  a very  strict 
friendship,  kept  always  near  one  another,  and  fed 
together.  The  Lion  often  saw  them,  and  as  often 
had  a mind  to  make  one  of  them  his  prey ; but, 
though  he  could  have  subdued  any  of  them  singly, 
yet  he  was  afraid  to  attack  the  whole  alliance,  as 
knowing  they  would  have  been  too  strong  for  him, 
and  therefore  he  contented  himself,  for  the  present, 
with  keeping  at  a distance.  At  last,  perceiving  no 
attempt  was  to  be  made  upon  them  as  long  as  this 
combination  held,  he  took  occasion,  by  whispers  and 
hints,  to  foment  jealousies,  and  raise  divisions 
among  them.  This  stratagem  succeeded  so  well, 
that  the  Bulls  grew  cold  and  reserved  towards  one 
another,  which  soon  after  ripened  into  a downright 
hatred  and  aversion  ; and,  at  last,  ended  in  a total 
separation.  The  Lion  had  now  obtained  his  ends ; 
and,  as  impossible  as  it  was  for  him  to  hurt  them 
while  they  were  united,  he  found  no  difficulty,  now 
they  were  parted,  to  seize  and  devour  every  Bull  of 
them,  one  after  another. 

“ United  we  stand  ; divided  we  fall.” 


THE  ASS  EATING  THISTLES. 

An  Ass  was  loaded  with  good  provisions  of  several 
sorts,  which,  in  time  of  harvest,  he  was  carrying  in- 
to the  field  for  his  master  and  the  reapers  to  dine 
upon.  By  the  way  he  met  with  a fine  large  Thistle, 
and,  being  yery  hungry,  began  to  mumble  it ; wkieh. 


236 


THE  FABLES  OF  .®SOP. 


while  he  was  doing,  he  entered  into  this  reflection 
— “ How  many  greedy  epicures  would  think  them- 
selves happy,  amidst  such  a variety  of  delicate, 
viands  as  I now  carry  ! But  to  me,  this  bitter, 
prickly  Thistle  is  more  savory  and  relishing  than 
the  most  exquisite  and  sumptuous  banquet.” 

Every  to  his  taste : one  man’s  meat  is  another 
man’s  poison,  and  one  man’s  poison  is  another  man’s 
meat. 


THE  COCK  AND  THE  FOX. 

The  Fox,  passing  early  one  summer’s  morning  near 
a farm-yard,  was  caught  in  a springe,  which  the 
farmer  had  planted  there  for  that  end.  The  Cock, 
at  a distance,  saw  what  happened , and,  hardly  yet 
daring  to  trust  himself  too  near  so  dangerous  a foe, 
approached  him  cautiously,  and  peeped  at  him,  not 
without  some  horror  and  dread  of  mind.  Reynard 
no  sooner  perceived  it,  but  he  addressed  himself  to 
him,  with  all  the  designing  artifice  imaginable. 
“Dear  cousin,”  says  he,  “you  see  what  an  unfortu- 
nate accident  has  befallen  me  here,  and  all  upon 
your  account : for,  as  I was  creeping  through  yon- 
der hedge,  in  my  way  homeward,  I heard  you  crow, 
and  was  resolved  to  ask  you  how  you  did  before  I 
went  any  further  ; but,  by  the  way,  I met  with  this 
disaster;  and  therefore  now  I must  become  an  hum- 
ble suitor  to  you  for  a knife  to  cut  this  plaguy  sti’ing; 
or,  at  least,  that  you  would  conceal  my  misfortune, 
till  I have  knawed  it  asunder  with  my  teeth.”  The 
Cock,  seeing  how  the  case  stood,  made  no  reply,  but 
posted  away  as  fast  as  he  could,  and  gave  the  farm- 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


%57 


er  an  account  of  the  whole  matter ; who,  taking  a 
good  weapon  along  with  him,  came  and  did  the 
Fox’s  business,  before  he  could  have  time  to  contrive 
his  escape. 

It  is  the  duty  of  humanity  to  succor  the  unfortu- 
nate and  the  troubled;  but  to  aid  the  vicious  and  the 
evil-minded  is  to  become  a partner  in  their  guilt. 


THE  FROG  AND  THE  FOX. 

A frog,  leaping  out  of  the  lake,  and  taking  the 
advantage  of  a rising  ground,  made  proclamation  to 
all  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  that  he  was  an  able  phy- 
sician, and,  for  curing  all  manner  of  distempers, 
would  turn  his  back  to  no  person  living.  This  dis- 
course, uttered  in  a parcel  of  hard,  cramped  words, 
which  nobody  understood,  made  the  beasts  admire 
his  learning,  and  give  credit  to  everything  he  said. 
At  last  the  Fox,  who  was  present,  with  indignation 
asked  him,  how  he  could  have  the  impudence,  with 
those  thin  lantern-jaws,  that  meagre,  pale  phiz,  and 
blotched,  spotted  body,  to  set  up  for  one  who  was 
able  to  cure  the  infirmities  of  others. 

“ Physician  heal  thyself.” 


THE  FOX  IN  THE  WELL. 

A Fox,  having  fallen  into  a Well,  made  a shift,  by 
sticking  his  claws  into  the  sides,  to  keep  his  head 
above  water.  Soon  after,  a Wolf  came  and  peeped 


258 


THE  FABLES  OF  A1SOP. 


over  the  brink  ; to  whom  the  Fox  applied  himself 
very  earnestly  for  assistance  ; entreating  that  he 
would  help  him  to  a rope,  or  something  of  that  kind, 
which  might  favor  his  escape.  The  Wolf,  moved 
with  compassion  at  his  misfortune,  could  not  forbear 
expressing  his  concern  ; “ Ah  ! poor  Reynard,”  says 
he,  I am  sorry  for  you  with  all  my  heart ; how 
could  you  possibly  come  into  this  melancholy  condi- 
tion ? ” “ Nay,  prithee,  friend,”  replies  the  Fox,  “if 

you  wish  me  well,  do  not  stand  pitying  of  me,  but 
lend  me  some  succor  as  fast  as  you  can  : for  pity  is 
but  cold  comfort  when  one  is  up  to  the  chin  in  wat- 
er, and  within  a hair’s  breadth  of  starving  or  drown- 
ing.” 

A grain  of  help  is  worth  a bushel  of  pity. 


THE  FOWLER  AND  THE  RINGDOVE. 

A Fowler  took  his  gun,  and  went  into  the  woods 
a shooting.  He  spied  a Ringdove  among  the 
branches  of  an  oak,  and  intended  to  kill  it.  He 
clapped  the  piece  to  his  shoulder,  and  took  his  aim 
accordingly.  But,  just  as  he  was  going  to  pull  the 
trigger,  an  adder,  which  he  had  trod  upon  under  the 
grass,  stung  him  so  painfully  in  the  leg,  that  he  was 
forced  to  quit  his  design,  and  threw  his  gun  down  in 
a passion.  The  poison  immediately  infected  his 
blood,  and  his  whole  body  began  to  mortify  ; which, 
when  he  perceived,  he  could  not  help  owning  it  to 
be  just.  “ Fate,”  says  he,  “ has  brought  destruction 
upon  me  while  I was  contriving  the  death  ©f 
another.” 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


259 


There  is  a law  of  retribution  governing  life.  Men 
often  fall  into  the  very  pit  they  dig  for  others. 


THE  TUNNY  AND  THE  DOLPHIN. 

A fish  called  a Tunny,  being  pursued  by  a Dolphin, 
and  driven  with  great  violence,  not  minding  which 
way  he  went,  was  thrown  by  the  force  of  the  waves 
upon  a rock,  and  left  there.  His  death  now  was  in- 
evitable ; but,  casting  his  eyes  on  one  side,  and  see- 
ing the  Dolphin  in  the  same  condition  lie  gasping  by 
him — “ Well,”  says  he,  “I  must  die,  it  is  true  ; but 
I die  with  pleasure,  when  I behold  him  who  is  the 
cause  of  it  involved  in  the  same  fate.” 

Revenge  is  sweet,  even  in  death. 


THE  BOAR  AND  THE  ASS. 

A little  scoundrel  of  an  Ass,  happening  to  meet 
with  a Boar,  had  a mind  to  be  arch  upon  him  : 
“And  so,  brother,”  says  he,  “your  humble  servant.” 
The  Boar,  somewhat  nettled  at  his  familiarity,  brist- 
led up  to  him,  and  told  him  he  was  surprised  to  hear 
him  utter  so  impudent  an  untruth,  and  was  just 
going  to  show  his  noble  resentment  by  giving  him  a 
rip  in  the  flank ; but  wisely  stifling  his  passion,  he 
contented  himself  with  only  saying — “ Go,  you  sor- 
ry beast ! I could  be  amply  and  easily  revenged  of 
you,  but  I do  not  care  to  foul  my  tusks  with  the 
blood  of  so  base  a creature.” 

Dignity  cannot  afford  to  quarrel  with  its  inferiors. 


260 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


THE  HORSE  AND  THE  LOADED  ASS. 

An  idle  Horse,  and  an  Ass  laboring  under  a heavy 
burden,  were  travelling  the  road  together ; they 
both  belonged  to  a country  fellow,  who  trudged  it  on 
foot  by  them.  The  Ass,  ready  to  faint  under  his 
heavy  load,  entreated  the  Horse  to  assist  him,  and 
lighten  his  burden,  by  taking  some  of  it  upon  his 
back.  The  Horse  was  ill-natured  and  refused  to  do 
it ; upon  which  the  poor  Ass  tumbled  down  in  the 
midst  of  the  highway,  and  expired  in  an  instant. 
The  countryman  ungirded  his  pack-saddle,  and  tried 
several  ways  to  relieve  him,  but  all  to  no  purpose  ; 
which,  when  he  perceived,  he  took  the  whole  bur- 
den, and  laid  it  upon  the  Horse,  together  with 
the  skin  of  the  dead  Ass  ; so  that  the  Horse,  by  his 
moroseness  in  refusing  to  do  a small  kindness,  justly 
brought  upon  himself  a great  inconvenience. 

Selfishness  often  prepares  a burden  as  well  as  a 
rod  for  its  own  back. 


THE  PEACOCK  AND  THE  MAGPIE. 

The  birds  met  together  upon  a time  to  choose  a 
king ; and  the  Peacock  standing  candidate,  display- 
ed his  gaudy  plumes,  and  caught  the  eyes  of  the 
silly  multitude  with  the  richness  of  his  feathers. 
The  majority  declared  for  him,  and  clapped  their 
wings  with  great  applause  ; but,  just  as  they  were 
going  to  proclaim  him,  the  Magpie  stepped  forth  in 
the  midst  of  the  assembly,  and  addressed  himself 
thus  to  the  new  king  May  it  please  your  majesty 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


261 


elect  to  permit  one  of  your  unworthy  subjects  to 
represent  to  you  his  suspicions  and  apprehensions, 
in  the  face  of  this  whole  congregation , we  have 
chosen  you  for  our  king,  we  have  put  our  lives  and 
fortunes  into  your  hands,  and  our  whole  hope  and 
dependence  is  upon  you ; if  therefore  the  eagle,  or 
the  vulture,  or  the  kite,  should  at  any  time  make  a 
descent  upon  us,  as  it  is  highly  probable  they  will, 
may  your  majesty  be  so  gracious  as  to  dispel  our 
fears,  and  clear  our  doubts  about  that  matter,  by  let- 
ting us  know  how  you  intend  to  defend  us  against 
them  ? ” This  pithy  unanswerable  question  drew 
the  whole  audience  into  so  just  a reflection,  that  they 
soon  resolved  to  proceed  to  a new  choice.  But,  from 
that  time,  the  Peacock  has  been  looked  upon  as  a 
vain,  insignificant  pretender,  and  the  Magpie  esteem- 
ed as  eminent  as  a speaker  as  any  among  the  whole 
community  of  birds. 

A king  chosen  for  his  adornments,  will  bring  his 
people  to  shame. 


THE  KITE  AND  THE  PIGEONS. 

A Kite,  who  had  kept  sailing  in  the  air  for  many 
days  near  a dove-house,  and  made  a stoop  at  several 
Pigeons,  but  all  to  no  purpose,  (for  they  were  too 
nimble  for  him,)  at  last  had  recourse  to  stratagem, 
and  took  his  opportunity  one  day  to  make  a declara- 
tion to  them,  in  which  he  set  forth  his  own  just  and 
good  intentions,  who  had  nothing  more  at  heart 
than  the  defence  and  protection  of  the  Pigeons  in 
their  ancient  rights  and  liberties,  and  how  concerned 


262 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


he  was  at  their  fears  and  jealousies  of  a foreign  in- 
vasion, especially  their  unjust  and  unreasonable 
suspicions  of  himself,  as  if  he  intended,  by  force  of 
arms,  to  break  in  upon  their  constitution,  and  erect 
a tyrannical  government  over  them.  To  prevent  all 
which,  and  thoroughly  quiet  their  minds,  he  thougjit 
proper  to  propose  to  them  such  terms  of  alliance  and 
articles  of  peace  as  might  forever  cement  a good  un- 
derstanding between  them ; the  principal  of  which 
was,  that  they  should  accept  of  him  for  their  king, 
and  invest  him  with  all  kingly  privilege  and  prerog- 
ative over  them.  The  poor  simple  Pigeons  consent- 
ed ; the  Kite  took  the  coronation  oath  after  a very 
solemn  manner,  on  his  part,  and  the  Doves,  the 
oaths  of  allegiance  and  fidelity,  on  theirs.  But 
much  time  had  not  passed  over  their  heads,  before 
the  good  Kite  pretended  that  it  was  part  of  his  pre- 
rogative to. devour  a Pigeon  whenever  he  pleased. 
And  this  he  was  not  contented  to  do  himself  only, 
but  instructed  the  rest  of  the  royal  family  in  the 
same  kingly  arts  of  government.  The  Pigeons,  re- 
duced to  this  miserable  condition,  said  one  to  the 
other,  “ Ah ! we  deserve  no  better ! Why  did  we 
let  him  come  in?  ” 

Men  should  look  before  they  leap.  A too  ready 
loyalty  often  ldhds  to  peril. 


THE  SWALLOW  AND  OTHER  BIRDS. 

A Farmer  was  sowing  his  field  with  flax.  The 
Swallow  observed  it,  and  desired  the  other  Birds  to 
assist  her  in  picking  the  seed  up  and  destroying  it, 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


263 


telling  them  that  flax  was  that  pernicious  material 
of  which  the  thread  was  composed  which  made  the 
fowler’s  nets,  and  by  that  means  contributed  to  the 
ruin  of  so  many  innocent  Birds.  But  the  poor  Swal- 
low not  having  the  good  fortune  to  be  regarded,  the 
flax  sprung  up,  and  appeared  above  the  ground. 
She  then  put  them  in  mind  once  more  of  their  im- 
pending danger,  and  wished  them  to  pluck  it  up  in 
the  bud  before  it  went  any  farther.  They  still  ne- 
glected her  warnings,  and  the  flax  grew  up  into  the 
high  stalk.  She  yet  again  desired  them  to  attack  it, 
for  that  it  was  not  yet  too  late.  But  all  that  she  could 
get  was  to  be  ridiculed  and  despised  for  a silly,  pre- 
tending prophet.  The  Swallow  finding  all  her  re- 
monstrances availed  nothing,  was  resolved  to  leave 
the  society  of  such  unthinking,  careless  creatures, 
before-  it  was  too  late.  So  quitting  the  woods,  she 
repaired  to  the  houses,  and  forsaking  the  conversa- 
tion of  the  Birds,  has  ever  since  made  her  abode 
among  the  dwellings  of  men. 

When  people  in  peril  will  not  heed  good  advice, 
they  must  bear  the  entire  responsibility  of  their 
foolish  conduct. 


THE  WANTON.  CALF. 

A Calf,  full  of  play  and  wantonness,  seeing  the  Ox 
at  plough,  could  not  forbear  insulting  him.  “ What 
a sorry  poor  drudge  art  thou,”  says  he,  “to  bear 
that  heavy  yoke  upon  your  neck,  and  go  all  day 
drawing  a plow  at  your  tail,  to  turn  up  the  ground 
for  your  master  ! but  you  are  a wretched  dull  slave, 


264 


THE  FABLES  OF  A3SOP. 


and  know  no  better,  or  else  you  would  not  do  it.  See 
what  a happy  life  I lead  : I go  just  where  I please  : 
sometimes  I lie  down  under  the  cool  shade ; some- 
times frisk  about  in  the  open  sunshine  ; and,  when 
I please,  slake  my  thirst  in  the  clear  sweet  brook  ; 
but  you,  if  you  were  to  perish,  have  not  so  much  as 
a little  dirty  water  to  refresh  you.”  The  Ox,  not  at 
all  moved  with  what  he  said,  went  quietly  and  calm- 
ly on  with  his  work  ; and,  in  the  evening  was  un- 
yoked and  turned  loose.  Soon  after  which  he  saw 
the  calf  taken  out  of  the  field,  and  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  a priest,  who  immediately  led  him  to  the 
altar,  and  prepared  to  sacrifice  him.  His  head  was 
hung  round  wfith  fillets  of  flowers,  and  the  fatal 
knife  was  just  going  to  be  applied  to  his  throat, 
when  the  Ox  drew  near  and  whispered  him  to  this 
purpose  : “ Behold  the  end  of  your  insolence  and 

arrogance  ; it  was  for  this  only  you  were  suffered  to 
live  at  all ; and  pray  now,  friend,  whose  condition  is 
best,  yours  or  mine?” 

Boastful  idleness  often  comes  to  grief. 


THE  HUSBANDMAN  AND  THE  STORK. 

The  Husbandman  pitched  a net  in  his  fields  to  take 
the  cranes  and  geese  which  came  to  feed  upon  the 
new-sown  corn.  Accordingly  he  took  several,  both 
cranes  and  geese  ; and  among  them  a Stork,  who 
pleaded  hard  for  his  life,  and,  among  other  apolo- 
gies which  he  made,  alleged,  that  he  •tfas  neither 
goose  nor  crane,  but  a poor  harmless  Stork,  who 
performed  his  duty  to  his  parents  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  feeding  them  when  they  were  old,  and,  as 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


265 


occasion  required,  carrying  them  from  place  to  place 
upon  his  back.  “ All  this  may  be  true,”  replied  the 
Husbandman ; “ but,  as  I have  taken  you  .in  bad 
company,  and  in  the  same  crime,  you  must  expect 
to  suffer  the  same  punishment.” 

However  good  a man  may  be  he  cannot  afford  to 
mix  with  evil  companions. 


THE  HORSE  AND  THE  LION. 

A Lion  seeing  a fine  plump  Nag,  had  a great  mind 
to  eat  a bit  of  him.  but  knew  not  which  way  to  get 
him  into  his  power.  At  last  he  bethought  himself  of 
this  contrivance  ; he  gave  out  that  he  was  a physi- 
cian, who,  having  gained  experience  by  his  travels 
into  foreign  countries,  had  made  himself  capable  of 
curing  any  sort  of  malady  or  distemper  incident  to 
any  kind  of  beast,  hoping  by  this  stratagem  to  get 
an  easier  admittance  among  cattle,  and  find  an  op- 
portunity to  execute  his  design.  The  Horse,  who 
smoked  the  matter,  was  resolved  to  be  even  with 
him  ; and,  so  humoring  the  thing  as  if  he  suspected 
nothing,  he  prayed  the  Lion  to  give  him  his  advice 
in  relation  to  a thorn  he  had  got  in  his  foot,  which 
had  quite  lamed  him,  and  gave  him  great  pain  and 
uneasiness.  The  Lion  readily  agreed,  and  desired 
he  might  see  the  foot.  Upon  which  the  Horse  lifted 
up  on(’  of  his  hind  legs,  and,  while  the  Lion  pretend- 
ed to  be  poring  earnestly  upon  his  hoof,  gave  him 
such  a kick  in  the  face  as  quite  stunned  him,  and 
left  him  sprawling  upon  the  ground.  In  the  mean 
time  the  Horse  trotted  away,  neighing  and  laugh- 
ing merrily  at  the  success  of  the  trick,  by  which  he 


266 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


had  defeated  the  purpose  of  one  who  intended  to 
have  tricked  him  out  of  his  life. 

The  sharpest  tricksters  are  often  overmatched. 
The  engineer  gets  “ hoist  with  his  own  petard.” 


CUPID  AND  DEATH. 

Cupid,  one  sultry  summer’s  noon,  tired  with  play, 
and  faint  with  heat,  went  into  a cool  grotto  to  repose 
himself,  which  happened  to  be  the  cave  of  Death. 
He  threw  himself  carelessly  down  on  the  floor,  and 
his  quiver  turning  topsy-turvy,  all  the  arrows  fell 
out,  and  mingled  with  those  of  Death,  which  lay 
scattered  up  and  down  the  place.  When  he  awoke 
he  gathered  them  up  as  well  as  he  could,  but  they 
were  so  intermingled  that,  though  he  knew  the  cer- 
tain number,  he  could  not  rightly  distinguish  them; 
from  which  it  happened  that  he  took  up  some  of  the 
arrows  which  belonged  to  Death,  and  left  several  of 
his  own  in  the  room  of  them.  This  is  the  cause  that 
we,  now  and  then,  see  the  hearts  of  the  old  and  de- 
crepit transfixed  with  the  bolts  of  love ; and  with 
equal  grief  and  surprise  behold  the  youthful  bloom- 
ing part  of  our  species  smitten  with  the  darts  of 
Death. 

Cupid’s  arrows  are  as  perilous  as  they  are  capri- 
cious. 


THE  OLD  MAN  AND  HIS  SONS. 

An  Old  Man  had  many  Sons,  who  were  often  falling 
out  with  one  another.  When  the  Father  had  exert- 
ed his  authority,  and  used  other  means  in  order  to 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


267 


reconcile  them,  and  all  to  no  purpose,  at  last  he  had 
recourse  to  this  expedient ; he  ordered  his  Sons  to 
be  called  before  him,  and  a short  bundle  of  sticks  to 
be  brought ; and  then  commanded  them,  one  by  one, 
to  try  if,  with  all  their  might  and  strength,  they 
could  any  of  them  break  it.  They  all  tried,  but  to 
no  purpose ; for  the  sticks  being  closely  and  com- 
pactly bound  up  together,  it  was  impossible  for  the 
force  of  man  to  do  it.  After  this  the  Father  or- 
dered the  bundle  to  be  untied,  and  gave  a single 
stick  to  each  of  his  Sons  ; at  the  same  time  bidding 
him  try  to  break  it  : which,  when  each  did  with  all 
imaginable  ease,  the  Father  addressed  himself  to 
to  them  to  this  effect, — “O  my  Sons,  behold  the 
power  of  unity  ! For  if  you,  in  like  manner,  would 
but  keep  yourselves  strictly  conjoined  in  the  bonds 
of  friendship,  it  would  not  be  in  the  power  of  any 
mortal  to  hurt  you;  but,  when  once  the  ties  of  broth- 
erly affection  are  dissolved,  how  soon  do  you  fall  to 
pieces,  and  are  liable  to  be  violated  by  every  injuri- 
ous hand  that  assaults  you  ! ” 

Unity  is  strength. 


THE  STAG  AND  THE  FAWN. 

A Stag,  grown  old  and  mischievous,  was,  according 
to  custom,  stamping  with  his  foot,  making  offers 
with  his  head,  and  bellowing  so  terribly,  that  the 
whole  herd  quaked  for  fear  of  him  ; when  one  of 
the  little  Fawns  coming  up,  addressed  him  to  this 
purpose,  — “ Pray,  what  is  the  reason  that  you,  who 
are  so  stout  and  formidable  at  all  other  times,  if  you 
do  but  hear  the  cry  of  the  hounds  are  ready  to  fly 


268 


THE  FABLES  OF  yESOP. 


out  of  your  skin  for  fear?” — “What  you  observe 
is  true,”  replied  the  Stag,  “ though  I know  not  how 
to  account  for  it  : I am  indeed  vigorous,  and  able 
enough,  I think,  to  make  my  party  good  anywhere, 
and  often  resolve  with  myself  that  nothing  shall  ev- 
er dismay  my  courage  for  the  future  ; but,  alas  ! I 
no  sooner  hear  the  voice  of  a hound  but  my  spirits 
fail  me,  and  I cannot  help  making  off  as  fast  as  ev- 
er my  legs  can  carry  me.” 

The  greatest  braggarts  are  generally  the  most  ab- 
ject cowards. 


THE  HAWK  AND  THE  FARMER. 

A Hawk,  pursuing  a pigeon  over  a corn  field  with 
great  eagerness  and  force,  threw  himself  into  a net 
which  a husbandman  had  planted  there  to  take  the 
crows  ; who  being  employed  not  far  off,  and  seeing 
the  Hawk  fluttering  in  the  net,  came  and  took  him; 
but,  just  as  he  was  going  to  kill  him,  the  Hawk  be- 
sought him  to  let  him  go,  assuring  him  that  he  was 
only  following  a pigeon,  and  neither  intended  nor 
had  done  any  harm  to  him.  To  whom  the  Farmer 
replied,  “And  what  harm  had  the  poor  pigeon  done 
to  you  ?”  Upon  which  he  wrung  his  head  off  imme- 
diately. 

Oppressors  are  never  short  of  excuses  for  their 
evil  designs. 


THE  NURSE  AND  THE  WOLF. 

A Nurse,  who  was  endeavoring  to  quiet  afroward, 
bawling  child,  among  other  attempts,  threatened  to 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


269 


throw  it  out  of  dooi*s  to  the  Wolf,  if  it  did  not  leave 
off  crying.  A Wolf,  who  chanced  to  be  prowling 
near  the  door  just  at  that  time,  heard  the  expres- 
sion, and,  believing  the  woman  to  be  in  earnest, 
waited  a long  while  about  the  house  in  expectation 
of  seeing  her  words  made  good.  But  at  last  the 
child,  wearied  with  its  own  importunities,  fell 
asleep,  and  the  poor  Wolf  was  forced  to  return  back 
to  the  woods  empty  and  supperless.  The  fox  meet- 
ing him,  and  surprised  to  see  him  going  home  so 
thin  and  disconsolate,  asked  him  what  the  matter 
was,  and  how  he  came  to  speed  no  better  that  night; 
“Ah  ! do  not  ask  me,”  says  he  ; “I  was  so  silly  as 
to  believe  what  the  Nurse  said,  and  have  been  dis- 
appointed.” 

Even  Wolves  are  sometimes  too  trustful 


THE  SATYR  AND  TRAVELER. 

A Satyr,  as  he  was  ranging  the  forest  in  an  exceed- 
ing cold,  snowy  season,  met  with  a Traveler  half- 
starved  with  the  extremity  of  the  weather.  He  took 
compassion  on  him,  and  kindly  invited  him  home  to 
a warm  comfortable  cave  he  had  in  the  hollow  of  a 
rock.  As  soon  as  they  entered  and  sat  down,  not- 
withstanding there  was  a good  fire  in  the  place,  the 
chilly  Traveler  could  not  forbear  blowing  his  fingers’ 
ends.  Upon  the  Satyr’s  asking  him  why  he  did  so, 
he  answered,  that  he  did  it  to  warm  his  hands.  The 
honest  sylvan  having  seen  little  of  the  world,  ad- 
mired a man  who  was  master  of  so  valuable  a qual- 
ity as  that  of  blowing  heat,  and  therefore  was  re- 
solved to  entertain  him  in  the  best  manner  he  could. 


270 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


He  spread  the  table  before  him  with  dried  fruits  of 
several  sorts  ; and  produced  a remnant  of  cold  cor- 
dial wine,  which,  as  the  rigor  of  the  season  made 
very  proper,  he  mulled  with  some  warm  spices,  in- 
fused over  the  fire,  and  presented  to  his  shivering 
guest.  But  this  the  traveler  thought  to  blow  like- 
wise ; and  upon  the  Satyr’s  demanding  a reason  why 
he  blowed  again,  he  replied,  to  cool  his  dish.  This 
second  answer  provoked  the  Satyr’s  indignation  as 
much  as  the  first  had  kindled  his  surprise:  so,  taking 
the  man  by  the  shoulder,  he  thrust  him  out  of  doors, 
saying,  he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  a wretch 
who  had  so  vile  a quality  as  to  blow  hot  and  cold 
with  the  same  mouth. 

The  meanest  of  men  is  he  who  combines  in  him- 
self the  flatterer  and  the  slanderer. 


THE  ENVIOUS  MAN  AND  THE  COVETOUS. 

An  Envious  Man  happened  to  be  offering  up  his 
prayers  to  Jupiter  just  in  the  time  and  place  with  a 
covetous  miserable  fellow.  Jupiter,  not  caring  to  be 
troubled  with  their  impertinences  himself, sent  Apollo 
to  examine  the  merits  of  their  petitions,  and  to  give 
them  such  relief  as  he  should  think  proper.  Apollo 
therefore  opened  his  commission,  and  withal  told 
them  that,  to  make  short  of  the  matter,  whatever 
the  one  asked  the  other  should  have  it  double.  Up- 
on this,  the  Covetous  Man,  though  he  had  a thousand 
things  to  request,  yet  forebore  to  ask  first,  hoping  to 
receive  a double  quantity  ; for  he  concluded  that  all 
men’s  wishes  sympathized  with  his.  By  this  means 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


m 

the  Envious  Man  had  an  opportunity  of  preferring 
his  petition  first,  which  was  the  thing  he  aimed  at ; 
so,  without  much  hesitation,  he  prayed  to  be  reliev- 
ed, by  having  one  of  his  eyes  put  out:  knowing  that, 
of  consequence,  his  companion  would  be  deprived 
of  both. 

Envy  and  Avarice  are  twin  brothers  of  an  evil 
house,  as  cruel  as  they  are  selfish. 


THE  TWO  POTS. 

An  Earthen  Pot,  and  one  of  Brass,  standing  togeth- 
er upon  the  river’s  brink,  were  both  carried  away  by 
the  flowing  in  of  the  tide.  The  Earthen  Pot  showed 
some  uneasiness,  as  fearing  he  should  be  broken; 
but  his  companion  of  Brass  bid  him  be  under  no 
apprehensions,  for  that  he  would  take  care  of  him. 
“ O,”  replies  the  other,  “ keep  as  far  off  as  ever  you 
can,  I entreat  you  ; it  is  you  I am  most  afraid  of : 
for,  whether  the  stream  dashes  you  against  me,  or 
me  against  you,  I am  sure  to  be  the  sufferer ; and, 
therefore,  I beg  of  you,  do  not  let  us  come  near  one 
another.” 

We  are  often  in  greatest  peril  from  well  intending 
friends. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  STORK. 

The  Fox  invited  the  Stork  to  dinner,  and,  being  dis- 
posed to  divert  himself  at  the  expense  of  his  guest, 
provided  nothing  for  the  entertainment  but  a soup, 
in  a wide,  shallow  dish.  This  himself  could  lap  up 


272 


THE  FABLES  OF  ,/ESOP. 


with  a great  deal  of  ease  ; but  the  Stork,  who  eould 
but  just  dip  in  the  point  of  his  bill,  was  not  a bit 
better  all  the  while  : however,  in  a few  days  after, 
he  returned  the  compliment,  and  invited  the  Fox ; 
but  suffered  nothing  to  be  brought  to  the  table  but 
some  minced  meat  in  a glass  jar,  the  neck  of  which 
was  so  deep  and  so  narrow,  that,  though  the  Stork 
with  his  long  bill  made  a shift  to  fill  his  belly,  all 
that  the  Fox,  who  was  very  hungy,  could  do,  was  to 
lick  the  brims,  as  the  Stork  slabbered  them  with  his 
eating.  Reynard  was  heartily  vexed  at  first,  but, 
when  he  came  to  take  his  leave,  owned  ingenuously, 
that  he  had  been  used  as  he  deserved,  and  that  he 
had  no  reason  to  take  any  threatment  ill,  of  which 
himself  had  set  the  example. 

The  Fox  may  be  full  of  cunning  but  the  Stork  is  a 
match  for  him. 


THE  BEAR  AND  THE  BEE-HIVES. 

A Bear,  climbing  over  the  fence  into  a place  where 
Bees  were  kept,  began  to  plunder  the  Hives,  and  rob 
them  of  their  honey.  But  the  Bees,  to  revenge  the 
injury,  attacked  him  in  a whole  swarm  together  ; 
and,  though  they  were  not  able  to  pierce  his  rugged 
hide,  yet,  Avith  their  little  stings,  they  so  annoyed 
his  eyes  and  nostrils,  that,  unable  to  endure  the 
smarting  pain,  with  impatience  he  tore  the  skin 
o\7er  his  ears  with  his  oavii  claws,  and  suffered  am- 
ple punishment  for  the  injury  he  did  the  Bees  in 
breaking  open  their  waxen  cells. 

Ill-gotten  gains  bring  many  pains. 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


273 


THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  CROW. 

An  Eagle  flew  down  from  the  top  of  a high  rock, 
and  settled  upon  the  back  of  a lamb  ; and  then  in- 
stantly flying  up  into  the  air  again,  bore  his  bleating 
prize  aloft  in  his  pounces.  A Crow  who  sat  upon  an 
elm,  and  beheld  the  exploit,  resolved  to  imitate  it ; 
so  flying  down  upon  the  back  of  a ram,  and  entang- 
ling his  claws  in  the  wool,  he  fell  a chattering  and 
attempting  to  fly  ; by  which  means  he  drew  the  ob- 
servation of  the  shepherd  upon  him,  who  finding  his 
feet  hampered  in  the  fleece  of  the  ram,  easily  took 
him,  and  gave  him  to  his  boys  for  their  sport  and 
diversion. 

It  is  not  always  safe  to  imitate  a bad  example. 


THE  DOG  AND  THE  SHEEP. 

The  Dog  sued  the  Sheep  for  debt,  of  which  the 
kite  and  the  wolf  were  to  be  judges.  They,  without 
debating  long  upon  the  matter,  or  making  any  scru- 
ple for  want  of  evidence,  gave  sentence  for  the 
plaintiff;  who  immediately  tore  the  poor  Sheep  in 
pieces,  and  divided  the  spoil  with  the  unjust  judges. 

Justice  #can  only  be  obtained  by  an  appeal  to 
righteous  judges. 


THE  YOUNG  MAN  AND  THE  SWALLOW. 

A prodigal  young  spendthrift,  who  had  wasted  his 
whole  patrimony  in  taverns  and  gaming-houses. 


274 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


among  lewd,  idle  company,  was  taking  a melan- 
choly walk  near  a brook.  It  was  in  the  month  of 
January;  and  happened  to  be  one  of  those  warm 
sunshiny  days  which  sometimes  smile  upon  us  even 
in  that  winterly  season  of  the  year  ; and  to  make  it 
the  more  flattering,  a Swallow,  which  had  made  his 
appearance,  by  mistake,  too  soon,  flew  skimming 
along  upon  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  giddy 
Youth  observing  this,  without  any  farther  considera- 
tion, concluded  that  summer  was  now  come,  and 
that  he  should  have  little  or  no  occasion  for  clothes, 
so  he  went  and  pawned  them  at  the  broker’s,  and 
ventured  the  money  for  one  stake  more,  among  his 
sharping  companions.  When  this  too  w'as  gone  the 
same  way  with  the  rest,  he  took  another  solitary 
walk  in  the  same  place  as  before.  But  the  weather 
being  severe  and  frosty,  had  made  everything  look 
with  an  aspect  very  different  from  what  it  did  be- 
fore ; the  brook  was  quite  frozen  over,  and  the  poor 
Swallow  lay  dead  upon  the  bank  of  it ; the  very 
sight  of  which  cooled  the  young  Spark’s  brains;  and 
coming  to  a sense  of  his  misery,  he  reproached  the 
deceased  bird  as  the  author  of  all  his  misfortunes: — 
“ Ah,  wretch  that  thou  wert ! ” says  he,  “ thou  hast 
undone  both  thyself  and  me.  who  was  so  credulous 
as  to  depend  upon  thee.” 

The  spendthrift  blames  everybody  but  himself  for 
his  poverty. 


THE  WOOD  AND  THE  CLOWN. 

A Country  Fellow  came  one  day  into  the  wood, 
and  looked  about  him  with  some  concern  ; upon 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


275 


which  the  Trees,  with  a curiosity  natural  to  some 
other  creatures,  asked  him  what  he  wanted.  He  re- 
replied, “ That  he  only  wanted  a piece  of  wood  to 
make  a handle  to  his  hatchet.”  Since  that  was  all, 
it  was  voted  unanimously  that  he  should  have  a 
piece  of  good,  sound,  tough  ash.  But  he  no  sooner 
received  and  fitted  it  for  his  purpose,  than  he  began 
to  lay  about  him  unmercifully,  and  to  hack  and  hew 
without  distinction,  felling  the  noblest  trees  in  all 
the  forest.  Then  the  Oak  is  said  to  have  spoke  thus  to 
the  Beech  in  a low  whisper,  — 4 ‘Brother,  we  must 
take  it  for  our  pains.” 

Beware  of  small  concessions. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  TIGER. 

A skillful  archer  coming  into  the  woods,  directed 
his  arrows  so  successfully,  that  he  slew  many  wild 
beasts,  and  pursued  several  others.  This  put  the 
whole  savage  kind  into  a fearful  consternation,  and 
made  them  fly  to  the  most  retired  thickets  for 
refuge.  At  last,  the  Tiger  resumed  a courage,  and, 
bidding  them  not  be  afraid,  said,  that  he  alone  would 
engage  the  enemy;  telling  them,  they  might  depend 
upon  his  valor  and  strength  to  revenge  their  wrongs. 
In  the  midst  of  these  threats,  while  he  was  lashing 
himself  with  his  tail,  and  tearing  up  the  ground  for 
anger,  an  arrow  pierced  his  ribs,  and  hung  by  its 
barbed  point  in  his  side.  He  set  up  an  hideous  and 
loud  roar,  occasioned  by  the  anguish  which  he  felt, 
and  endeavored  to  draw  out  the  painful  dart  with 
his  teeth;  when  the  Fox,  approaching  him,  inquired 
with  an  air  of  surprise,  who  it  was  that  could  have 


276 


THE  FABLES  OF  iESOP. 


strength  and  courage  enough  to  wound  so  mighty 
and  valorous  a beast ! “ Ah  ! ” says  the  Tiger,  “ I 

was  mistaken  in  my  reckoning  : it  was  that  invinci- 
ble man  yonder.” 

It  is  never  wise  to  be  to  boastful.  There  is  always 
some  vulnerable  point  in  the  strongest  armor. 


JUPITER  AND  THE  CAMEL. 

The  Camel  presented  a petition  to  Jupiter,  complain- 
ing 01  the  hardship  of  his  case  in  not  having,  like 
bulls  and  other  creatures,  horns,  or  any  weapons  of 
defence,  to  protect  himself  from  the  attacks  of  his 
enemies,  and  praying  that  relief  might  be  given  him 
in  such  manner  as  might  be  thought  most  expedient, 
Jupiter  could  not  help  smiling  at  the  impertinent 
address  of  the  great  silly  beast,  but,  however,  reject- 
ed the  petition;  and  told  him  that,  so  far  from  grant- 
ing his  unreasonable  request,  henceforward  he 
would  take  care  his  ears  should  be  shortened,  as  a 
punishment  for  his  presumptuous  importunity. 

Dissatisfaction  tends  to  diminish  the  value  of 
present  possessions. 


THE  WIND  AND  THE  SUN. 

A dispute  once  arose  betwixt  the  north  Wind  and 
the  Sun,  about  the  superiority  of  their  power ; and 
they  agreed  to  try  their  strength  upon  a traveler, 
which  should  be  able  to  get  his  cloak  off  first.  The 
north  Wind  began,  and  blew  a very  cold  blast,  ac- 


THE  FABLES  OF  ASSOP. 


277 


companied  with  a sharp  driving  shower.  But  this, 
and  whatever  else  he  could  do,  instead  of  making 
the  man  quit  his  cloak,  obliged  him  to  gird  it  about 
his  body  as  close  as  possible.  Next  came  the  Sun; 
who,  breaking  out  from  a thick  watery  cloud,  drove 
away  the  cold  vapors  for  the  sky,  and  darted  his 
warm  sultry  rays  upon  the  head  of  the  poor  weath- 
er-beaten traveler.  The  man  growing  faint  with  the 
heat,  and  unable  to  endure  it  any  longer,  first  throws 
off  his  heavy  cloak,  and  then  flies  for  protection  to 
the  shade  of  a neighboring  grove. 

Extremes  are  always  dangerous ; a medium  course 
is  always  most  to  be  desired. 


THE  OLD  WOMAN  AND  HER  MAIDS. 

A certain  Old  Woman  had  several  Maids,  whom 
she  used  to  call  up  to  their  work,  every  morning,  at 
the  crowing  of  the  cock.  The  Wenches,  who  found 
it  grievous  to  have  their  sweet  sleep  disturbed  so 
early,  combined  together,  and  killed  the  cock ; 
thinking  that,  when  the  alarm  was  gone,  they 
might  enjoy  themselves  in  their  warm  beds  a little 
longer.  The  Old  Woman,  grieved  for  the  loss  of  her 
cock,  and  having,  by  some  means  or  other,  discov- 
ered the  whole  plot,  was  resolved  to  be  even  with 
them  ; for,  from  that  time,  she  obliged  them  to  rise 
constantly  at  midnight. 

In  rash  endeavors  to  reduce  existing  ills,  we  may 
easily  increase  our  troubles. 


278 


THE  FABLES  OF  jESOP. 


THE  PORCUPINE  AND  THE  SNAKES. 

A Porcupine,  wanting  to  shelter  himself,  desired  a 
nest  of  Snakes  to  give  him  admittance  into  their 
cave.  They  were  prevailed  upon,  and  let  him  in 
accordingly;  but  were  so  annoyed  with  his  sharp 
prickly  quills  that  they  soon  repented  of  their  easy 
compliance,  and  entreated  the  Porcupine  to  with- 
draw, and  leave  them  their  hole  to  themselves. 
“ No,”  says  he,  “ let  them  quit  the  place  that  don’t 
like  it ; for  my  part,  I am  well  enough  satisfied  as  I 
am.” 

Hospitality  is  a virtue  but  should  be  wisely  exer- 
cised, we  may  by  thoughtlessness  entertain  foes  in- 
stead of  friends. 


THE  CAT  AND  THE  FOX. 

As  the  Cat  and  the  Fox  were  talking  politics  togeth- 
on  a time,  in  the  middle  of  a forest,  Reynard  said, 
“ Let  things  turn  out  ever  so  bad,  he  did  not  care, 
for  he  had  a thousand  tricks  for  them  yet,  before 
they  should  hurt  him.”  “But  pray,”  says  he,  “Mrs. 
Puss,  suppose  there  should  be  an  invasion,  what 
course  do  you  design  to  take  ?”  “ Nay,”  says  th$ 

Cat,  “ I have  but  one  shift  for  it,  and  if  that  won’t 
do,  I am  undone.”  “I  am  sorry  for  you,”  replies 
Reynard,  “ with  all  my  heart,  and  would  gladly  fur- 
nish you  with  one  or  two  of  mine,  but  indeed 
neighbor,  as  times  go,  it  is  not  good  to  trust ; we 
must  even  be  every  one  for  himself,  as  the  saying  isr. 
and  so  your  humble  servant.”  These  words  were 


THE  FABLES  OF  ,®SOP. 


278 


scarcely  out  of  his  mouth,  when  they  were  alarmed 
with  a pack  of  hounds,  that  came  upon  them  full 
cry.  The  Cat,  by  the  help  of  her  single  shift,  ran  up 
a tree,  and  sat  securely  among  the  top  branches; 
from  whence  she  beheld  Reynard,  who  had  not  been 
able  to  get  out  of  sight,  overtaken  with  his  thousand 
tricks,  and  torn  in  as  many  pieces  by  the  dogs  which 
had  surrounded  him. 

A little  common  sense  is  often  of  more  value  than 
much  cunning. 


THE  LION  AND  OTHER  BEASTS. 

The  Lion  and  several  other  beasts  entered  into  an 
alliance  offensive  and  defensive,  and  were  to  live 
very  sociably  together  in  the  forest.  One  day,  having 
made  a sort  of  an  excursion  by  way  of  hunting,  they 
took  a very  fine,  large,  fat  deer,  which  was  divided 
into  four  parts  ; there  happening  to  be  then  present 
his  majesty  the  Lion,  and  only  three  others.  After 
the  division  was  made,  and  the  parts  were  set  out, 
his  majesty,  advancing  forward  some  steps  and 
pointing  to  one  of  the  shares,  was  pleased  to  declare 
himself  after  the  following  manner:  “This  I seize 
and  take  possession  of  as  my  right,  which  devolves 
to  me,  as  I am  descended  by  a true,  lineal,  heredi- 
tary succession  from  the  royal  family  of  Lion  ; that 
(pointing  to  the  second)  I claim  by,  I think,  no  un- 
reasonable demand  ; considering  that  all  the  engage- 
ments you  have  with  the  enemy  turn  chiefly  upon  my 
courage  and  conduct ; and  you  very  well  know,  that 
wars  are  too  expensive  to  be  carried  on  without 


280 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


proper  supplies.  Then  (nodding  his  head  towards 
the  third)  that  I shall  take  by  virtue  of  my  preroga- 
tive ; to  which,  I make  no  question,  but  so  dutiful 
and  loyal  a people  will  pay  all  the  deference  and  re- 
gard that  I can  desire.  Now,  as  for  the  remaining 
part,  the  necessity  of  our  present  affairs  is  so  very 
urgent,  our  stock  so  low,  and  our  credit  so  impaired 
and  weakened,  that  I must  insist  upon  your  grant- 
ing that,  without  any  hesitation  or  demur,  and 
hereof  fail  not  at  your  peril. 

We  should  be  careful  how  we  place  ourselves  at 
the  mercy  of  the  powerful. 


THE  FATAL  MARRIAGE. 

The  Lion  touched  with  gratitude  by  the  noble  pro- 
cedure of  a Mouse,  and  resolving  not  to  be  outdone 
in  generosity  by  any  wild  beast  whatsoever,  desired 
his  little  deliverer  to  name  his  own  terms,  for  that 
he  might  depend  upon  his  complying  with  any  pro- 
posal he  should  make.  The  Mouse,  fired  with  am- 
bition at  this  gracious  offer,  did  not  so  much  consid- 
er what  was  proper  for  him  to  ask,  as  what  was  in 
the  power  of  his  prince  to  grant ; and  so  presump- 
tuously demanded  his  princely  daughter,  the  young 
Lioness,  in  marriage.  The  Lion  consented  ; but, 
when  he  would  have  given  the  royal  virgin  into  his 
possession,  she,  like  a giddy  thing  as  she  was,  not 
minding  how  she  walked,  by  chance  set  her  paw 
upon  her  spouse,  who  was  coming  to  meet  her,  and 
crushed  her  little  dear  to  pieces. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP. 


281 


Ambition  oftentimes  overleaps  itself  and  falls  into 
great  peril. 


THE  ANT  AND  THE  FLY. 

One  day  there  happened  some  words  between  the 
Ant  and  the  Fly  about  precedency,  and  the  point 
was  argued  with  great  warmth  and  eagerness  on 
both  sides.  Says  the  Fly,  “ It  is  well  known  what 
my  pretensions  are,  and  how  justly  they  are  ground- 
ed : there  is  never  a sacrifice  offered  but  I always 
taste  of  the  entrails,  even  before  the  gods  them- 
selves. I have  one  of  the  uppermost  seats  at  church, 
and  frequent  the  altar  as  often  as  anybody:  I have 
a free  admission  at  court ; and  can  never  want  the 
king’s  ear,  for  I sometimes  sit  upon  his  shoulder. 
There  is  not  a maid  of  honor,  or  handsome  young 
creature  comes  in  my  way,  but,  if  I like  her,  I settle 
betwixt  her  balmy  lips.  And  then  I eat  and  drink 
the  best  of  everything,  without  having  any  occasion 
to  work  for  my  living.  What  is  there  that  such 
country  pusses  as  you  enjoy  to  be  compared  to  a life 
like  this  ? ” The  Ant,  who  by  this  time  had  com- 
posed herself,  replied.with  a great  deal  of  temper, 
and  po  less  severity — “ Indeed,  to  be  a guest  at  an 
entertainment  of  the  gods  is  a very  great  honor,  if 
one  is  invited  ; but  I should  not  care  to  be  a disagree- 
able intruder  anywhere.  You  talk  of  the  king 
and  the  court,  and  the  fine  ladies  there,  with  great 
familiarity;  but,  as  I have  been  getting  in  my  har- 
vest in  summer,  I have  seen  a certain  person  under 
the  town  walls  making  a hearty  meal  upon  some- 
thing that  is  not  so  proper  to  be  mentioned.  As  to 


282  THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 

your  frequenting  the  altars,  you  are  in  the  right  to 
take  sanctuary  where  you  are  like  to  meet  with  the 
least  disturbance;  but  I have  knoAvn  people  before 
now  run  to  altars,  and  call  it  devotion,  when  they 
have  been  shut  out  of  all  good  company,  and  had 
nowhere  else  to  go.  You  do  not  work  for  your 
living,  you  say — true  : therefore,  when  you  have 
played  away  the  summer,  and  winter  comes,  you 
have  nothing  to  live  upon  ; and,  while  you  are  starv- 
ing with  cold  and  hunger,  I have  a good,  warm 
house  over  my  head,  and  plenty  of  provisions  about 
me.” 

Gaiety  and  folly  are  all  very  well  for  the  summer, 
but  when  the  winter  comes  they  change  to  discon- 
tent and  wretchedness. 


THE  COUNTRYMAN  AND  THE  SNAKE. 

A Villager,  in  a frosty,  snowy  winter,  found  a 
Snake  under  a hedge  almost  dead  with  cold.  He 
could  not  help  having  a compassion  for  the  poor 
creature,  so  he  brought  it  home,  and  laid  it  upon  the 
hearth  near  the  fire;  but  it  had  not  lain  there  long, 
before  (being  revived  with  the  heat)  it  began  to 
erect  itself,  and  fly  at  his  wife  and  children,  filling 
the  whole  cottage  with  dreadful  hissings.  The 
Countryman  hearing  an  outcry,  and  perceiving  what 
the  matter  was,  caught  up  a mattock,  and  soon 
dispatched  him ; upbraiding  him  at  the  same  time 
in  these  words: — “Is  this,  vile  wretch,  the  reward 
you  make  to  him  that  saved  your  life?  Die  as  you 
deserve ; but  a single  death  is  too  good  for  you.” 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP. 


28a 


Kindness  to  the  ungrateful  and  the  vicious  i& 
goodness  thrown  away. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  SICK  LION. 

It  was  reported  that  the  Lion  was  sick,  and  tin* 
beasts  were  made  to  believe  that  they  could  not 
make  their  court  better  than  by  going  to  visit  him. 
Upon  this  they  generally  went;  but  it  was  particu- 
larly taken  notice  of  that  the  Fox  was  not  one  of  the 
number.  The  Lion,  therefore  dispatched  one  of  his 
jackalls  to  sound  him  about  it,  and  ask  him  why  he 
had  so  little  charity  and  respect  as  never  to  come 
near  him  at  a time  when  he  lay  so  dangerously  ill, 
and  everybody  else  had  been  to  see  him.  “ Why,” 
replies  the  Fox,  “ pray  present  my  duty  to  his  majes- 
ty, and  tell  him  that  I have  the  same  respect  for  him 
as  ever,  and  have  been  coming  several  times  to  kiss 
his  royal  hand  ; but  I am  so  terribly  frightened  at 
the  mouth  of  his  cave,  to  see  the  print  of  my  fellow- 
subjects’  feet  all  pointing  forwards  and  none  back- 
wards, that  I have  not  resolution  enough  to  venture 
in.”  Now  the  truth  of  the  matter  was,  that  this 
sickness  of  the  Lion  was  only  a sham  to  draw 
the  beasts  into  his  den,  the  more  easily  to  devour 
them. 

It  is  never  safe  to  trust  the  cruel. 


INDEX 


V 


Preface 

Life  of  iEsop 

Fage. 


iEthiop 254 

Ant  and  Dove 127 

Ant  and  Fly 281 

Ants  and  Grasshoppers. ...  40 

Apes  and  Two  Travelers.. . 179 

Ass  and  Charger 287 

Ass  and  Driver 28 1 

Ass  and  Frogs 152 

Ass  and  Grasshopper 38 

Ass  and  his  Masters 122 

Ass  and  his  Purchasers.. . . 214 

Ass  and  his  Shadow 121 

Ass  and  Horse 234 

Ass  and  Lap  dog 69 

Ass  and  Mule 68 

Ass  and  Old  Shepherd. ...  157 

Ass  and  Wolf 185 

Ass  carrying  Image 115 

Ass  eating  Thistles 255 

Ass,  Cock  and  Lion 110 

Ass,  Fox  and  Lion 51 

Ass  in  the  Lion’s  Skin 211 

Astronomer 78 

Bald  Man  and  Fly 248 

Bald  Knight 147 

Bat  and  Weasels. 38 

Bear  and  Bee-hive 372 

Bear  and  Fox 50 

Bear  and  Two  Travelers. . . 57 

Bee  and  Jupiter 118 

Belly  and  Members 88 

Birdcatcher,  Partridge  and 

Cock 126 

Birds,  Beasts  and  Bat 208 

Bitch  and  her  Whelps 222 

Blind  Man  and  Whelp  ...  199 

Boasjbing  Traveler 62 

Boar  and  Ass  . . 259 


xxviii 


Page. 

Bowman  and  Lion 155 

Boy  and  Filberts 66 

Boy  and  Nettles 76 

Boy  Bathing 179 

Boy  Hunting  Locusts 40 

Boys  and  Frogs 71 

Brazier  and  his  Dog 120 

Brother  and  Sister 198 

Buffoon  and  the  Country- 
man  249 

Bull  and  Calf 160 

Bull  and  Goat 145 

Bull,  Lioness  and  Wild 
Boar  Hunter 154 

Camel 156 

Camel  and  Arab 156 

Camel  and  Jupiter 242 

Cat  and  Birds ^ . 80 

Cat  and  Cock 61 

Cat  and  Fox 278 

Cat  and  Mice 135 

Cat  and  Venus 246 

Cobbler  turned  Doctor 200 

Cock  and  Fox 256 

Cock  and  Jewel ....  41 

Charcoal-burner  and  Fuller  40 

Charger  and  Miller 86 

Countryman  and  Snake. . . 282 

Crab  and  Fox 156 

Crab  and  its  Mother 94 

Crow  and  Mercury 206 

Crow  and  Pitcher 163 

Crow  and  Raven 152 

Crow  and  Serpent 251 

Crow  and-Sheep 234 

Cupid  and  Death 266 

Dancing  Monkeys. 140 

Doe  and  Lion.  13Q 


Index , 


285 


Dog  and  Cook 137 

Dog  and  Hare 160 

Dog  and  Oyster 236 

Dog  and  Shadow 45 

Dog  and  Sheep . . 273 

Dog,  Cock  and  Fox 187 

Dog  in  Manger 59 

Dogs  and  Fox. . . 200 

Dogs  and  Hides 223 

Dogs’  House 204 

Dolphins, Whales  and  Sprat  92 
Dove  and  Crow 215 

Eagle  and  Arrow 105 

Eagle  and  Beetle 247 

Eagle  and  Captor 244 

Eagle  and  Crow. . . 273 

Eagle  and  Fox 219 

Eagle  and  Jackdaw 217 

Eagle  and  Kite 343 

Eagle,  Cat  and  Wild  Sow..  161 
Envious  and  Covetous  Man  270 

Farmer  and  Cranes 54 

Farmer  and  Fox 140 

Farmer  and  his  Sons 82 

Farmer  and  Snake 46 

Farmer  and  Stork ...  48 

Fatal  Marriage 280 

Father  and  his  Sons 86 

Father  and  his  Two  Daugh- 
ters  94 

Fawn  and  his  Mother 49 

Fighting  Cocks  and  Eagle  85 

Fir  Tree  and  Bramble 96 

Fisherman  ancl  his  Ne*s  . . 245 
Fisherman  and  Little  F*sh  131 

Fisherman  Piping 42 

Fishermen 194 

Flea  and  Man 236 . 

Flea  and  Ox 214 

Flea  and  Wrestler 230 

Flies  and  Honev-pot 52 

Fly  and  the  Draught  Mule.  194 

Fowler  and  Ringdove 258 

Fowler  and  Viper 192 

Fox  and  Bramble 235 

Fox  and  Crane, . . , . . 207 


Fox  and  Crow 99 

Fox  and  Goat 55 

Fox  and  Grapes 165 

Fox  and  Hedge  hog 159 

Fox  and  Leopard 143 

Fox  and  Lion 177,  210 

Fox  and  Mask 189 

Fox  and  Monkey 86 

Fox  and  Monkey 174 

Fox  and  Stork 271 

Fox  and  Tiger 275 

Fox  and  Sick  Lion 283 

Fox  and  Woodcutter 125 

Fox  in  tbd  Well 257 

Fox  who  had  lost  his  Tail . . 77 

Frog  and  Fox 257  - 

Frogs  asking  for  a King.. . 65 

Frogs’  com  pi u in  t against? 

Sun. 252 


Game.Cocks  and  Partridge  202 

Geese  and  Cranes 197 

Gnat  and  Bull 224 

Gnat  amd  Lion 170 

Goat  and  Ass 188 

Goat  and  Goatherd 64 

G atherd  and  Wild  Goats.  75 

Goods  and  Ills 211 

Grasshopper  and  Owl 190 

Hare  and  Hound 149 

Hare  and  Tortoise 43 

Hares  and  Foxes 158 

ILt res  and  Frogs 129 

Hares  and  Lions 182 

Hart  and  Vine: 167 

Hawk  and  Farmer 268 

Hawk  and  Nightingale. . . . 186 
Hawk,  Kite  and  Pigeons. . 91 

Heifer  and  Ox 82 

Hen  and  Golden  Eggs 151 

Hen  and  Swallow 230 

Hercules  and  Wagoner.  ...  44 

Herdsman  and  lost  Bull. . . 47 

Horse  and  Ass 192- 

Horse  and  Groom 69 

Horse  and  Loaded  Ass. . . . 260 
Horse  and  Lion 265 


286 


Index. 


Horse  and  his  Rider 

Horse  and  Stag 

Hunter  and  Horseman 

Hunter  and  Woodman. . . . 
Huntsman  and  Fisherman . 
Husbandman  and  Stork . . . 

Image  of  Mercury  and  Car- 
penter.   

Jackdaw  and  Doves 

Jackdaw  and  Fox 

Jupiter  and  Camel 

Jupiter  and  Monkey 

Jupiter,  Neptune,  Minerva 
and  Momus. , . 

Kid  and  Wolf 

Kid  and  Wolf 

Kingdom  of  the  Lion 

King’s  Son  and  Painted 

Lion 

Kite  and  Pigeons 

Kites  and  Swans 

Laborer  and  Snake 

Lamb  and  Wolf 

Lamp 

Lark  and  her  Young  Ones. 
Lark  burying  her  Father. . 

Lion  and  Boar 

Lion  and  Bull 

Lion  and  Dolphin. 

Lion  and  Eagle 

Lion  and  Four  Bulls 

Lion  and  Fox *. 

Lion  and  Hare 

Lion  and  Mouse 

Lion  and  other  Beasts 

Lion  and  Shepherd 

Lion  and  Three  Bulls 

Lion,  Bear  and  Fox 

Lion / Fox  and  Ass 

Lion  in  a Farmyard 

Lion  in  Love 

Lion,  Jupiter  and  Elephant 

Lion,  Mouse  and  Fox 

Lion*  Wolf  and  Fox 


Lioness 56 

Man  and  his  two  Sweet- 
hearts  78 

Man  and  his  Wife 174 

Man  and  Lion 52 

Man  and  Satyr 218 

Man  bitten  by  a Dog 98 

Man,  Horse,  Ox  and  Dog. . 176 

Manslayer 238 

Master  and  his  Dogs 118 

Mercury  and  Sculptor 124 

Mercury  and  Workmen. . . 215 

Mice  and  Weasels 108 

Mice  in  Council 112 

Milk- woman  and  her  Pail..  Ill 
Miller,  his  Son  and  their 

Ass 133 

Mischievous  Dog 73 

Miser 64 

Mole  and  his  Mother 46 

Monkey  and  Camel 225 

Monkey  and  Dolphin 171 

Monkey  and  Fisherman. . * 128 
Monkeys  and  their  Mother.  148 

Mother  and  Wolf 233 

Mountain  in  Labor 50 

Mouse  and  Bull 136 

Mouse,  Frog  and  Hawk. . . 253 

Mule 161 

Mules  and  Robbers 240 

North  Wind  and  Sun 205 

Nurse  and  Wolf 268 

Oak  and  Reeds 123 

Oak  and  Woodcutters 149 

Oaks  and  Jupiter 148 

Old  Hound 117 

Old  Lion 116 

Old  Man  and  Death 96 

Old  Man  and  his  Sons 266 

Old  Woman  and  her  Maids  277 
Old  Woman  and  Physician  84 
’Old  Woman  and  Wine-jar.  101 
Olive-tree  and  Fig-tree. . . . 252 
One-eyed  Doe 107 


87 

173 

251 

132 

98 

264 

144 

172 

223 

276 

90 

218 

81 

169 

42 

245 

261 

158 

67 

239 

146 

183 

224 

107 

189 

106 

230 

255 

229 

143 

35 

279 

242 

193 

139 

146 

124 

63 

238 

72 

203 


Index. 


m 


Owl  and  Birds. 

Ox  and  Frog 

Oxen  and  Axle-trees 

Oxen  and  Butchers 

Panther  and  Shepherds 

Partridge  and  Fowler 

Peacock  and  Crane 

Peacock  and  Juno 

Peacock  and  Magpie 

Peasant  and  Apple  tree. . . . 

Peasant  and  Eagle 

Philosopher,  Ants,  and 

Mercury 

Playful  Ass 

Pomegranate,  Apple  tree 

and  Bramble 

Porcupine  and  Snakes — 
Porker,  Sheep  and  Goat. . . 
Prophet 

Quack  Frog 

Raven  and  Swan 

Rich  Man  and  Tanner 

Rivers  and  Sea 

Rose  and  Amaranth 

Salt  Merchant  and  his  Ass. 

Satyr  and  Traveler 

Sea-gull  and  Kite 

Seaside  Travelers 

Seller  of  Images 

Serpent  and  Eagle 

She-goats  and  tlieir  Beards 

Shepherd  and  Dog 

Shepherd  and  Sea 

Shepherd  and  Sheep 

Shepherd  and  Wolf 

Shepherd’s  Boy  and  Wolf. 
Shipwrecked  Man  and  Sea. 

Sick  Kite 

Sick  Lion 

Sick  Stag 

Sparrow  and  Hare 

Spendthrift  and  Swallow.. 

Stag  and  Fawn 

Stag  at  the  Pool.  * 

Stag  in  the  Ox-Stall, 


Stag,  Wolf  and  Sheep 160 

Swallow  and  Crow 46 

Swallow  and  other  Birds.. . 262 
Swallow, Serpent  and  Court 

of  Justice 92 

Swan  and  Goose 130 

Swollen  Fox 132 

Thief  and  his  Mother 95 

Thief  and  House-dog 175 

Thief  and  Innkeeper 167 

Thieves  and  Cock 138 

Thirsty  Pigeon 58 

Three  Tradesmen 114 

Thrush  and  Fowler 231 

Tortoise  and  Eagle 53 

Town  Mouse  and  Country 

Mouse 195 

Traveler  and  Fortune 142 

Traveler  and  his  Dog 44 

Traveler  and  Plane  tree 232 

Trees  and  Axe 153 

Trees  under  the  Protection 

of  Gods 227 

Trumpeter  taken  Prisoner.  209 

Tunny  and  Dolphin 259 

Truth  and  Traveler 228 

Two  Bags 220 

Two  Dogs 100 


Two  Men  who  were  Ene- 
mies.  202 

Two  Pots 93 

Two  Soldiers  and  Robber. . 22r< 
Two  Travelers  and  Axe. . . 116 

Vain  Jackdaw 79 

Vine  and  Goat 89 

Viper  and  File 241 

Walnut  Tree 170 

Wanton  Calf 263 

Wasp  and  Snake 150 

Wasps,  Partridges  and  Far- 
mer  197 

Weasel  and  the  Mice 178 

| Widow  and  Little  Maidens  90 

I Widow  and  Sheep 102 

| Wild  Boar  and  Fox 114 


210 

83 

58 

71 

243 

235 

150 

184 

260 

226 

144 

141 

104 

50 

278 

66 

164 

203 

60 

240 

113 

232 

74 

269 

141 

119 

186 

166 

247 

147 

110 

226 

93 

72 

248 

106 

59 

75 

212 

208 

267 

221 

103 


Index. 


288 


Wild  Ass  and  Lion. . 

Wind  and  Sun 

W If  and  Crane 

Wolf  and  Fox 

Wolf  and  Goat 

Wolf  and  H rse 

Wolf  and  House  dog 

Wolf  and  Lamb 

Wolf  and  Lion 

Wolf  and  Lion 

Wolf  and  Sheep  . . . . , 


Wolf  and  Shepherd 181 

Wolf  and  Shepherds 119 

Wolf,  Fox  and  Ape 196 

Wolf  in  Sheep’s  Clothing. . 62 

Wolves  and  Sheep 80 

Yfolves  and  Sheep  dogs ....  154 

Woman  and  her  Hen 157 

Wood  and  the  Clown.  . . . 274 

Young  Man  and  Swallow. . 273 


102 

276 

39 

164 

191 

201 

113 

37 

127 

207 

97 


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PRESERVATION  REVIEW 


